Young Leaders Share ESG Solutions

2024, September 13 #NUgoesGLOBAL#NUstudents#NUnews

Young Leaders Share ESG Solutions

2024, September 13

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Kazakhstan is experiencing an increase in average air temperature faster than the global average, rising by 1.3 degrees every ten years.

The UNICEF representative shared this concerning statistic in Kazakhstan at the Local Youth Climate Change Conference – LCOY Kazakhstan-2024, held at NU. At this annual conference, young leaders, students, researchers, and experts from across Kazakhstan exchanged their perspectives on addressing climate change and sustainable development issues.

NU, as the National SDSN Country Office for Kazakhstan (Sustainable Development Solutions Network), brings together 25 Kazakhstani universities and research institutions, including KazNU, SDU, KAZNARU, KBTU, and others, to foster dialogue aimed at developing practical solutions and conducting research to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In his speech, NU Provost Ilesanmi Adesida emphasized that NU is committed to the principles of sustainable development and combating climate change.

"Education and innovation are crucial in addressing climate change. We are dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle environmental challenges. Our students and researchers are pioneers of innovative ideas, ready to lead with resilience and creativity," noted the Provost.

Kazakhstan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of global warming. According to Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, over 6 million children in the republic are exposed to severe impacts of climate change, including natural disasters, health impacts, flooding, and education disruptions. He also emphasized that local efforts to combat climate change contribute significantly to solving global challenges.

"In the context of climate change, UNICEF aims to support the government, youth, academia, our partners, and communities. We want to empower youth to take more active roles in this area. Since the pre-industrial era, global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius. By 2030, we face a catastrophic increase of 1.5 degrees. In some regions, we are already seeing a rise in the number of extremely hot days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees," Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar stated.

The conference program includes several sessions and discussions on pressing climate change issues, including water security in Central Asia, a particularly critical issue for Kazakhstan, given the region's growing water resource challenges. Following the discussions, the youth will issue a joint statement, which will be presented at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November this year. An essential educational component of the conference was dedicated to sessions on the role of youth in climate negotiations.

LCOY Kazakhstan-2024 was organized by the NU Office of Sustainable Development, SDSN Youth Kazakhstan, UCAP, and the public foundation "Kameda," with support from UNICEF, GIZ, and FES.