Solve Climate by 2030 Multi-Stakeholder Recommendations for RME in Eurasia

Event Partners: Narxoz University, Bard College (Bard Center for Environmental Policy), Global Compact Office Kazakhstan, Business Schools for Climate Leadership Africa, Central Asian Regional Environmental Center (Kazakhstan Country Office), UNESCO

Background
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29 UNFCCC) is scheduled for November 11-24 in Baku, Azerbaijan. COP29 will serve as a pivotal platform for negotiating international climate policies, advancing climate action, and fostering global cooperation to achieve a sustainable and resilient future. Among the many stakeholders who will participate in the deliberations and negotiations at the annual climate conference, academia and business have a significant role to play in accelerating the climate agenda.

The projected rise in earth’s temperature will be disastrous for people and the planet. In just one generation, the global temperature is projected to warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius and between 2-4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Therefore, proactive measures must be taken now to prevent it.

Building from a similar event hosted by PRME Chapter Eurasia co-Chair, Narxoz University, prior to COP26, the Narxoz team have partnered with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), the academic initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate responsibility network, to initiate dialogue and develop recommendations for business and academia ahead of COP29.

Concept of the event
This online event aimed to engage in a multi-stakeholder dialogue, with academia, businesses, students, civil society and the governments of the Eurasian region, in order to produce recommendations on the future of responsible business and management education in the lead up to the COP. This was done recognizing the unique geographical and cultural connections these countries have and shared interests for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Outcomes
The outcomes of this event included a set of multi-stakeholder recommendations in three categories, and to be delivered to business, governments and higher education institutions, ahead of COP negotiations. The three categories include:

Recommendations for governments (including education ministries) and higher education institutions for making ambitious climate commitments in their policies, strategies, and curricula.
Recommendations for business on how higher education and the private sector can collaborate to accelerate the SDGs and take bold climate action together (i.e through applied research projects).
Recommendations from students for the above two categories (business and higher ed), on what are needs and wants of the next generation of business leaders in terms of green skills and green jobs. This section will also be informed by the outcomes of the UN’s Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Student Action Group event during the High Level Political Forum.
--`Green Skills and Green Jobs Report launched at the HESI-SAG event in PRME, Global Compact offices on 17 July.

In parallel, this online event is a precursor for launching and promoting initiatives during COP29 side events and pavilions. Such initiatives can include but are not limited to: the Business Schools for Climate Leadership (BS4CL) for Eurasia, exploring how business schools can contribute to the implementation of the recommendations, exploring topical issues common among the Eurasian countries.