UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform

🗓️ As 2024 comes to a close, here are this week's events in sustainable development. 🌿 10-16 December | 11th Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (#IPBES11) | Windhoek, Namibia Delegates have focused on approving an assessment on the biodiversity-water-food-health nexus as well as an assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gUSRifED IPBES #biodiversity #ecosystemservices 💰 16-20 December | 68th Meeting of the GEF Council | Online The Global Environment Facility Council (32 Members from GEF Member countries) met three times in 2024. During these meetings, the council will develop, adopt and evaluate the operational policies and programs of GEF-financed activities. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gGFi5pnp We look forward to following the progress of these two events and understanding what their outcomes will mean for #SustainableDevelopment globally.

⏸️ ♻️ With plastic treaty negotiations paused until 2025, what are the next priorities? While the latest Chair's text was accepted as foundation for resumed discussions in 2025, many significant challenges remain: 🏭 Controls on plastic production 🧪 Chemical regulation in plastics 💰 Responsibility of financing for implementation 📊 Clear provisions for establishing an evidence base, transparent reporting and regular review by experts The success of any global plastics treaty will ultimately depend on: 🔍 Robust mechanisms for transparency, accountablity and reporting 💡 Regular expert review of collective progress (as requested by SIDS) 📈 National data systems to track flows of plastic across the lifecycle To acheive such mechanisms will require adequate financing 💰 and collective capacity-building 🤝 to ensure equitable, evidence-based decision-making and policy. Experts Bella Charlesworth, Randika Jayasinghe and Eliza Northrop from UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform and Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat have summarised their insights from the ground in Busan in this latest expert insight. In the lead-up to INC-5.2, our team will continue to support Member States to develop the evidence base needed to effectively manage plastic pollution. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gxfH2tWz #GlobalPlasticTreaty #INC5 #PlasticTreaty #PlasticData #SustainableDevelopment

TODAY 📈 How are national data on plastics essential to the success of the treaty? systems important for the global plastic treaty? Today at #INC5 to the global plastic treaty, experts will dive 💦 into: ✔️the types and sources of data available on plastics across the ‘full life cycle’  ✔️ how this data could be used to inform decision-making including the development of national action plans and monitoring effectiveness ✔️ Case studies from Indonesia, Australia and the Republic of Korea will provide examples of successful and impactful data management ✔️ Practical tools for countries to assess their data readiness for the potential #GlobalPlasticTreaty This event features a global lineup of guests from: 🔹 UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform 🔹 Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat 🔹 World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia 🔹 Indonesia National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) 🔹 OSEAN 🔹 Tangaroa Blue Foundation 👀 See you soon! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gyf2yES4

❓How can data drive decision-making to manage plastic pollution?  📈 🔍Today, during a seminar at #INC5 for the global plastic treaty, experts unpacked why data on plastics and plastic flows is so foundational to securing  a robust, equitable and effective regime for addressing #plasticpollution and opportunities to bridge the data gap.  Highlights from the panel discussion: 🔵 Countries face varying challenges in developing plastic data systems based on capacity and resources 🔵 Quality national data across the plastic lifecycle is fundamental for effective treaty implementation 🔵 Cross-sector collaboration between government, civil society & research institutions is crucial for improving data availability Thank you to panelists Rocky P. from World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia and Indonesia National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), Conrad Sparks from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa and Alicia Loh from Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), Republic of Korea and speakers Eliza Northrop and Bella Charlesworth from the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform and Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat. As negotiations for the #GlobalPlasticTreaty continue this week, it is clear that robust national data systems or pathways are crucial for countries to: ✅ Set realistic yet ambitious goals through national action plans ✅ Monitor the implementation of commitments ✅ Verify progress and ensure integrity of potential market mechanisms ✅ Report progress transparently within their countries ✅ Contribute to aggregating global progress against treaty objectives ✅ Assess the overall effectiveness of the instrument ✅ Support the ratcheting mechanism by providing evidence for increased ambition #INC5 #GlobalPlasticTreaty #PlasticTreaty

📢 How can data and collaboration enhance each a country's ambition and readiness to implement the #GlobalPlasticTreaty once it is ratified? Event from Indonesia National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia, ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP), UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform at #INC5 to the global plastic treaty next week ⬇️⬇️⬇️

📢 Four days until final negotiations start in Busan for the global plastic treaty! Why is data essential for a successful regime? 📈 Data is essential to ✅ Set realistic yet ambitious goals through national action plans ✅ Monitor the implementation of commitments ✅ Verify progress and ensure integrity of potential market mechanisms ✅ Report progress transparently within their countries ✅ Contribute to aggregating global progress against treaty objectives ✅ Assess the overall effectiveness of the instrument ✅ Support the ratcheting mechanism by providing evidence for increased ambition There is an opportunity to ensure the new global plastics treaty can improve understanding of the full life cycle of plastics via mechanisms to increase the collection and accessibility of data. To explore the importance of data in decision-making for the potential treaty and beyond, the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform and Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat will host two in-person seminars during INC-5 in Busan, Republic of Korea. 1. Data-driven decision making for managing plastic pollution   🗓️ Tues 26 Nov 2024 🕰️ 12:00 - 14:00 Korea time 📍Meeting room 123, BEXCO Centre 2, Busan, Republic of Korea https://lnkd.in/gUyWXztg Featuring experts Eliza Northrop and Randika Jayasinghe from the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform and Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat. 2. Developing national data systems to drive decision-making for the global plastic treaty and beyond - part of the Korean Government's "Rethinking Plastic Life" event   🗓️ Thurs 28 Nov 2024 🕰️ 12:00 - 13:30 Korea time 📍Room 324, BEXCO Center 2nd, Busan, Republic of Korea   https://lnkd.in/gr5wweTH Featuring presentations from Eliza Northrop and Randika Jayasinghe from the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform and Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat and case studies from Rocky P. - World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia and Indonesia National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) and Bella Charlesworth - Tangaroa Blue Foundation. 👀 Join us in Busan! #PlasticTreaty #GlobalPlasticTreaty #INC5 #PlasticData #SustainableDevelopment

🚮 DYK - Informal waste workers collect 59% of all plastic collected globally - the success of any global plastic treaty will depend on these hidden heroes 🦸♀️ Our latest expert insight by CSDR Research Fellow and Plastic and Waste Specialist, Dr Randika Jayasinghe, dives into the opportunity for the #GlobalPlasticTreaty to make visible the informal waste sector and ensure a transition that listens to their voices, protects their rights and values their expertise. 💡 Up to 20 million people worldwide work in the informal #waste sector, many being women. In many developing countries, these informal waste workers form the backbone of #recycling and waste management systems. Despite their crucial role, these workers face significant challenges including hazardous working conditions, irregular income, limited safety equipment, social stigma and gender-based discrimination. ⏩ The success of any #GlobalPlasticTreaty depends on these workers who handle materials on the ground. Their practical knowledge of recycling systems and material flows is invaluable for designing effective solutions. Despite its critical role, many nations lack comprehensive data on the informal sector and its social, environmental and economic impacts. The upcoming global plastic treaty has an opportunity to address this through: ✅ Formal recognition of workers' rights ✅ Improved data collection on the informal sector ✅ Integration of waste worker expertise in policy decisions ✅ Gender-responsive support measures ✅ Economic security through Extended Producer Responsibility schemes 🔗 Read the expert insight now: https://lnkd.in/ggerqzyy #WasteManagement #CircularEconomy #SustainableDevelopment #PlasticsTreaty #JustTransition

Are you an energy specialist looking to contribute to Australia's energy transition? We're looking for an Energy Transitions Specialist (Research Fellow) to contribute to the #Racefor2030 project, which aims to upgrade energy in Australian homes. In this role you will: 🤝 Collaborate with governments and researchers in Australia to contribute research and academic articles 🌐 Contribute to research and projects that have real-world impacts for Australia 👩🎓 Mentor and guide students and colleagues and develop the next generation of academics 💡 About the Centre Our team at the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform, based at UNSW, builds on diverse research, education, and knowledge exchange partnerships aligned with global #SustainableDevelopment commitments. The Centre creates safe spaces for changemakers—from government, business, and wider society—to plan pragmatic action for a sustainable low-carbon future informed by knowledge and insights from across the world. We are a team of of multi-disciplinary focussed researchers who are working on topics at the intersections of economics, politics, law, environmental management, data science and development. Interested? Learn more and apply before apply before 24 Nov 2024: https://lnkd.in/gmVd8dfQ #Hiring #EnergyTransition #ResearchJobs #ResearchFellow #SustainableDevelopment

Final negotiations for the global plastic treaty are just two weeks away ⏰ One fundamental yet neglected element will be central to it’s success… data. Data on plastics is essential to: 📈 understand the flow of plastics within a country’s economy, 📈 establish realistic but ambitious goals, 📈 monitor the implementation of those measures and 📈 enable aggregation of global progress towards global goals. 🔍 Despite it’s importance, data has been relatively neglected in negotiations to date. And in the most recent non-paper released by the Chair (Non-paper 3 of the Chair of the Committee) of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (#INC) - data was noticeably absent.  In our latest expert insight, CSDR Director, Eliza Northrop delves into why #data should be brought to the negotiating table at #INC5 and what could happen if it’s not. “Only with robust data can we hope to turn the tide on plastic pollution and create a cleaner, more sustainable future.” 🔗 Read now: https://lnkd.in/gpwxWdMs #SustainableDevelopment #INC5 #GlobalPlasticTreaty

👩🔬 📈 Are you an applied economist interested in using your skills to support countries in their sustainable development? 👀 We're looking for a Post-Doctoral Fellow (Applied Economist) who can use their knowledge and expertise of economics, economic accounting, government finance and data to contribute towards the developmental impact of our partner countries. In this role you will: 🤝 Collaborate with governments and researchers in Australia and overseas contribute to policy decision-making globally ✈️ Have opportunities to travel for in-country visits, workshops and fieldwork, building close relationships with in-country partners 🌐 Contribute to research and projects that have real-world impacts 💡 About the Centre Our team at the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform, based at UNSW, builds on diverse research, education, and knowledge exchange partnerships aligned with global #SustainableDevelopment commitments. The Centre creates safe spaces for changemakers—from government, business, and wider society—to plan pragmatic action for a sustainable low-carbon future informed by knowledge and insights from across the world. The Centre also hosts the Secretariat to the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP). Interested? Learn more and apply before apply before 27 Nov 2024: https://lnkd.in/gu8NNEw3 #Hiring #AppliedEconomist #ResearchJobs #EconomistJob #ResearchFellow #SustainableDevelopment