Science Policy Actions for Renewed Knowledge (SPARK) Webinar Series

Meeting the triple planetary challenges of Climate change, Biodiversity loss, and Pollution requires policies informed by science and practices understood and adopted by society. Yet the practice of science and policymaking is changing; science is ever more transdisciplinary, geo-political and economic forces shape policies in new ways, and both science and policymaking are embedded in a turbulent social media landscape, influenced by ever-changing priorities in diplomacy. While science and policy interact in complex ways, the process for shaping that interaction—the science-policy interface—must be clear and responsive if it is to be relevant for the future. 

UNEP has established a number of programmatic priorities to work with diverse stakeholders in strengthening science policy interfaces including enhancing collaboration with scientific institutions and scientists, supporting natural and social sciences linkages, using digital transformation systems for assessing science policy actions, supporting inclusive approaches to knowledge sharing and management and the related. 

As a part of UNEP’s focus on knowledge sharing and exchange on issues of science policy interfaces, the Law Division has established SPARK to bring diverse expertise from a number of stakeholders, including indigenous people and local communities and others, to discuss emerging issues under SPI and options for strengthening SPI at different levels in support of better environmental management and governance.  

Designed through a number of webinars, the series provides uncommon opportunities for stakeholders working on science policy interfaces to have a deep dive into key and emerging issues in support of environmental management, governance and development.

Role of Environmental Law and Governance in Strengthening Science-Policy Interfaces 

The first SPARK webinar focused on the role of environmental law and governance in strengthening science-policy interfaces highlighting the need for effective environmental policy trackers, including the existing environmental rule of law databases and platforms such as Infor MEA, which provides information on environmental law and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to stakeholders including in the executive, parliaments, and the judiciary. 

Date: Tuesday, 28 February 2023                                     

Time: 3.00 pm - 5.50 pm EAT         

Speakers: 

      1. Giulia Carlini: A senior attorney in CIEL’s Environmental Health program, protecting communities and the environment from toxic exposure. 

      2. Jorge Cabrera: Professor of Environmental Law in the University of Costa Rica, CISDL Lead Counsel on Biodiversity Law and Former negotiator of the CBD/Nagoya Protocol for Costa Rica. He also doubles as an International consultant on ABS for several countries in LAC, Africa and Asia and is a WCEL Member 

   3. Alexandra Harrington: Lecturer in Law, Lancaster University Law School and Chair, IUCN Task Force on Plastic Pollution  

   4. Claudio Chiarolla: Sustainable Development Professional, IP & Global Law Scholar, Human Rights Advocate, Environmentalist, Negotiator & Author.

Watch the webinar's recording below: 

The Emerging Role of Academics and Academies of Science in Strengthening Science - Policy Interfaces.    

The Second SPARK Webinar focused on how scientists, academics and science academies can contribute to strengthening SPI-related actions and identify options for stronger involvement of these stakeholders in emerging multilateral processes and implementing the outcomes.  

Date: Tuesday, 23 May 2023                                     

Time: 3.00 pm - 5.50 pm EAT   

Speakers

1. Dr. Salvatore Arico: The CEO of, International Science Council (ISC), Executive Secretary of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board and Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the United Nations University and Chief of Programme at the Convention on Biological Diversity.

     2. Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail FASc is the former President of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and Chairs the National Planetary Health Action Plan Committee. She currently holds the Ibnu Sina Professorial Chair in Medicine at the International Islamic University Malaysia. 

Watch the webinar recording

Information and Data Governance: Principles and Approaches 

In line with the Law Division's focus on strengthening science-policy interfaces following the launch of the Science Policy Actions for Redefining Knowledge (SPARK) programme. The Division organised a Brown Bag Session and invited Aditya Agrawal, founder of D4DInsights from Seattle, USA as a keynote speaker. This was a hybrid meeting that took place both online and in the UNEP Law Division Meeting room.

Date: Thursday, 2 March 2023                                     

Time: 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm EAT         

Speaker: Aditya Agrawal founder of D4DInsights

Watch the webinar's recording below: