Arendalsuka 2021 - Making Peace with Nature

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared 2021 as the year to “ reconcile humanity with nature .” Human-caused environmental changes, including accelerating global warming and mass biodiversity loss, are putting unprecedented pressure on the planet, threatening the achievement of every single one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Nature was a central theme at the fifth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), where we witnessed a call for decisive action to protect and restore nature, and apply nature-based solutions in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build back better in a post-pandemic world. We must make peace with nature. Our development cannot be one that keeps ignoring nature, its value and the benefits it provides to our economic development and societies.

The theme - Making Peace with Nature - encourages us to think broadly about the pathways we can take forward, the partnerships that will make this change possible, and the tools we have for success. The panel discussion will provide a platform to showcase a variety of perspectives including business, youth, science and indigenous voices.

This panel discussion will be on nature and the solutions it provides to tackle climate, biodiversity and pollution crises to secure a sustainable future.

Speakers

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme
Maren Hersleth Holsen, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment

Panellists

Bård Vegar Solhjell, Director General, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Fridtjof Fossum Unander, Executive Director, Oceans, Energy and Sustainability, The Research Council of Norway
Lasse Bjørn, Project Manager, Arctic and Environmental Unit, Saami Council
Karen Landmark, Director of Strategic and Business Development, Greenstat AS
Lea Justine Nesheim, Deputy Leader, Natur og Ungdom

Have a question for our speakers and panellists? Send them to us by filling out the form here, or send it via Twitter using #GRIDAQs