Students of York University will have the opportunity to attend an event designed to mobilize youth to advocate and implement sustainable development goals.
On Thursday, Oct. 26, the Foundation of Environmental Stewardship and the Bachelor in Environmental Studies’ Student Association from York University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies will host the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) Training. It runs in celebration of Canada 150, and takes place at Vari Hall Lecture Hall from 9am to 1:30pm.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are 17 goals developed by the United Nations in 2015 which help to better understand and solve a wide range of global environmental challenges, including; climate change, food security, ecological and wildlife preservation, gender equality, economic prosperity, and access to education. By spreading awareness of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, future generations will be inspired to act, and solve the many environmental challenges we face today.
Students will have the opportunity to interact with UN officials, policymakers, and civil society activists who identified, created, and are implementing the Sustainable Development Goals around the world.
Attendees will have opportunity to learn about implementing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on a local, national, and international scale, as well as the important role they have in assuring a prosperous environment for future generations.
Participants will also receive a certificate for the training from the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship. All York University students are invited to attend, and can RSVP through Eventbrite.
The keynote speaker for this event will be the Deputy Director, United Nations Environment Program Jamil Ahmad, who will deliver a lecture titled “UN for the most marginalized: How does UN serve the most marginalized: youth, women, children and more?”.
As deputy director of the New York Office of UNEP, Ahmad focuses on liaising with the Permanent Missions to the UN in support of UNEP’s policies and program.
A career diplomat, Ahmad joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1986 and has worked in a number of different duty stations with rich experience of bilateral and multilateral affairs, including acting permanent representative to the UN agencies in Rome and deputy permanent representative to UNEP in Nairobi. He participated in numerous important UN and other intergovernmental meetings, including the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002, sessions of the UNGA, the Commission of Sustainable Development (CSD) and the Governing Councils of UNEP, UN-HABITAT and FAO. He was lead negotiator of the Group of 77 & China for Climate Change under Pakistan’s chairmanship in 2007 culminating at COP13 to UNFCCC in Bali in 2007. He joined UNEP in 2008.
He was also the Secretary for the Governing Bodies of UNEP based in Nairobi, Kenya (2008-14). He directed, managed and coordinated the work of the Secretariat, led the organization of the sessions of the Governing Bodies and was the focal point of UNEP’s external relations.
Ahmad holds a master’s degree in political science.