Global trade and economic growth over the last half century have driven huge improvements in health and living standards but also undermined the stability of the Earth’s natural systems and exacerbated global inequality. The 2020 Living Planet Index shows that global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have suffered an average 68% decline in less than half a century (from 1970 to 2016). According to the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2020, the top five most pressing challenges facing Africa and the world over the next decade are, for the first time, all related to the environment, and include biodiversity loss and climate change. Thus, the main cause of this dramatic decline is habitat loss and degradation, including deforestation, driven by how we as humanity produce food.
Our economies are embedded within nature but economics do not recognize that human health, wealth and security depend on safeguarding environmental health. Nature powers industry and enterprise but we are using up ‘natural capital’ and degrading natural systems faster than nature can replenish and restore them, exceeding Earth’s overall bio capacity by 58% according to Ecological Foot printing.
Failure to tackle nature’s decline will increase nature-related risk (desertification, pollution, erosion, overexploitation of natural resources such as forest and water), hamper prosperity and economic development, further disrupt supply chains, threaten global food security, and cost the global economy at least $479 billion a year – amounting to $10 trillion by 2050.
Addressing the aforementioned challenges requires the involvement of youths and civil society. Thus, as part of its engagement for ecosystems restoration African network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development has set the New Deal for Nature and People Coalition made up of over 500 civil society organizations committed towards the nature and human positive Vision: to stop and reverse the catastrophic loss of biodiversity, ensure good governance, human rights, peacebuilding and put nature on the path recovery for present and future generations. In 2020, African youths and civil society organizations members of the coalition drafted two regional position papers on COVID19 and pandemics and towards a strong post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for a green growth resumption in Africa and in the world.
Youth and Civil Society have a role to lead the continent and the world to transiting to custodians of natural capital, human rights, peace and development. Among various approaches used thereto, African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development emphasizes in the production of articles as tools of teaching, learning, experience sharing and advocacy. A Research group of worldwide writers called the New Deal for Nature and People Research Group has been set.
Objectives
The present call aims at recruiting new members of the New Deal for Nature and People Research and Actions Group. Under the coordination of African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development, the group seek on one hand, to strengthen the scientific production of civil society actors on issues relating to sustainable development goals at local, national and regional level, and on another hand, to reinforce their visibility through the release of their works on several regional and international platforms and channels. Several collaborative initiatives and work will be implemented with selected members who will be given membership certificate and further details after selection.
Criteria of application
- Be an individual or a representative of an organization
- Be a citizen of any country member of the United Nations
- Show a proof of at least one article or scientific work written in any area related to conservation and restoration of ecosystems, climate change, peacebuilding and sustainable development
- Propose 2 themes you wish to develop within the New Deal for Nature and People Research Group