Engaging international development partners in New York to advance #climateaction

"The world economy needs a new development paradigm for the 21st century," said Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles. He made the statement at Global Partnerships for Climate Action, a symposium arranged by The SUNY- UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development (CLSD).

Addressing the gathering, Vice-Chancellor Beckles explained, “We are at the tail end of the 19th century development paradigm that was based on economic growth by all means necessary, including colonial exploitation, white supremacy, destruction of rainforests, financial institutions catering for elites, and disrespect for the environment and the poor. We all want inclusive development that is sustainable. But human and civil rights cannot be again ignored and set aside. Universities should never again support 'development by any means necessary'.”

The symposium brought academics from The UWI, the State University of New York (SUNY), the joint SUNY-UWI Center, the Global University Consortium on SDG 13, a wide cross section of development partners—including the World Bank, the IDB, UNDP, UNECLAC, Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and many others—to the SUNY Global Center in New York on the eve of the UN Global Climate Summit. All speakers reiterated the need for collaboration in advancing climate action.

Describing one of the UNDP's major initiatives to support the region in his remarks, Dr. López-Calva, Assistant Secretary General and Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, underscored, “It is very important that we partner with academia.”

During the four-hour high level consultation, development partners and academia discussed mechanisms to strengthen the interface between knowledge, policy and practice; the practical application of research into climate innovations; research communication and advocacy in generating much- needed development impact at the grassroots level, and how to tackle climate change challenges.

A cross-section of attendees from The UWI, SUNY, UNDP, CARICOM and other partner agencies