Announcements
Announcements
The Policy and Innovation Forum takes place as SEI marks 30 years of bridging science, policy and practice, and celebrates the 10th anniversary of SEI Africa.
Simultaneously, the world is looking forward to the 50th Anniversary of the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment (the Stockholm Conference) which laid the foundational architecture of the current global environment governance.
The 1972 Stockholm Conference marked a turning point in global environmental governance, including the founding of UN Environment (UNEP), hosted in Nairobi, Kenya.
Photo: RapidEye / Getty Images.
The theme of the 2019 Policy and Innovation Forum is “Environmental Governance and Diplomacy in the Post Globalization Era.” The Policy and Innovation Forum seeks to celebrate the leadership by the Government of Sweden and Kenya on global environment and climate diplomacy, and to showcase the role of research and science in strengthening environmental and climate diplomacy.
The forum is organised by SEI Africa and hosted at the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF).
“We are very proud to hold the Policy and Innovation Forum in Nairobi, the home of UN Environment and the environmental capital of the world. The forum will bring together scientists, diplomats and policy makers to explore how science can strengthen environment and climate diplomacy by addressing climate resilience beyond national borders and the management of oceans as global commons. We are responding to the needs of African countries that are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.”
—Philip Osano, Acting Director of SEI Africa
The programme includes high-profile guest speakers, including Dr Monica Juma, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Kerstin Niblaeus, Board Chair of Stockholm Environment Institute, Dr Jian Liu, Chief Scientist at UN Environment (UNEP), Dr Cosmas Ochieng, Director of the African Natural Resources Center at the African Development Bank Group, and H.E. Dr Wilber Ottichilo, Governor of Vihiga County.
The event will be webcast Tuesday 15 October, 09:00 – 13:45 EAT (GMT+3).
Video: SEI / YouTube.
One of SEI’s most important functions is to deliver independent and high-quality science as a basis for policy- and decision-making. The Policy and Innovation Forum is an annual international conference aimed at business, government, politicians, researchers and diplomats.
The event will be held at the ICRAF Conference Hall in Nairobi on 15 October and consist of five sessions and an exhibition.
The high-level opening session will include statements by representatives from SEI, the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) as host institution, UN Environment, and a Keynote Speech by the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs. This session will include an interactive dialogue on the role of science-driven Environment and Climate Diplomacy.
“Climate Resilience beyond borders” will include short presentations by SEI researchers highlighting some of the ground-breaking research and policy engagement on trans-boundary natural management, trans-national climate risks, and SDGs and climate finance, among others. This will be followed by a panel discussion with policy practitioners and technical experts from the regional organizations, national and county governments, private sector/industry, and academia.
“SDGs through Blue Economy and Oceans” will include a Keynote presentation by the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, followed by short presentations by representatives from UN Environment (UNEP), the French Research Institute (IRD), the East African Community (EAC), and SEI.
“Poverty reduction, human well-being and gender inclusivity” will include three parallel break-out workshops to allow participants to deep dive on specific research and policy issues, explore collaboration and partnership opportunities, and allow for networking between SEI researchers and participants. The three focus themes are: (1) Energy and climate for development; (2) Sustainable urbanization; and (3) Governance of natural resources for development. This session will address the issues of how environmental management better can contribute to poverty reduction, human wellbeing, and gender inclusivity.
An exhibition by selected institutions and industry will be held at the forum, to showcase projects, tools, and innovations for environmental research, management and development.
The event will finalize with a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of SEI and the 10th anniversary of SEI Africa.
For further information or interviews, please contact:
Past event / The theme of this year's annual SEI Science Forum is environmental governance and diplomacy in the post-globalization era.
Past event / With partners from the policy world and industrial sectors, the Forum highlighted research, impacts and achievements on sustainability.
Press release / This briefing will take stock of recent issues in the science and policy of sustainable development, ahead of the UNFCCC climate change summit in Poland.
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