Towards Global Environmental Sustainability- CanadIAN Centennial Scholarship Fund Seminar

The upcoming UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow from this Sunday is providing Canada and world leaders a continued opportunity to strengthen their climate policies. With stern warning from the UN that the world is on course for a temperature rise of 3 degrees C, double the Paris goal of 1.5 degrees C, more work needs to be done more quickly we heard this week.

The occasion was a Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF) seminar featuring their PhD scholars – the theme was Towards Global Environmental Sustainability. These scholars were all experts in their field, spoke so compellingly about global environmental sustainability and were truly a statement to the CCSF and their outstanding work supporting their studies in the UK.

We learned about Britain’s climate targets and how eco-mapping could help achieve these goals, tackled conversations on Indigenous governance, climate finance and market led mechanisms. One of the scholars was actually in the process of developing a mapping software designed to measure nature’s benefits in the UK.

The recurring theme that resonated in these conversations and with us was the concept of inclusive strategy. Put plainly, Inclusive climate action means both reducing the effects of climate change on the most vulnerable and ensuring the benefits and burdens of climate action are equitably distributed. How is that achieved? Well it starts with a process where everyone's voice is represented.

Cooperation and collaboration are key – communities can be resilient and change, especially if a platform for bridging differences and establishing trust is provided. “We all agree that building relationships does take time, trust is a precious commodity, and we should acknowledge that gaining trust is difficult” we heard from the scholars. .One of the scholars spoke about not “being paralyzed with fear” when it comes to climate change but rather to learn to care about it and make small but significant changes that will lead to progress and trust. We were interested to note that this message personal transformation and responsibility was echoed by leading Canadian environmentalist Siila Watt-Cloutier, who spoke about this later in the week.

Thank you to Robin Mansell, Michelle Sahai and the CCSF team for organising such an inspiring event. For more information on the CCSF Scholarship and application deadlines please visit www.canadianscholarshipfund.co.uk