On May 29, SDSN Youth is hosting a LIVE webinar with Sir Robert Watson, former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), about climate change and biodiversity. The conversation will take place in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which illustrates the threats to human health and well-being arising from environmental degradation.

The SDG Students Program is an initiative of SDSN Youth that aims to engage students in higher education in the global effort to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, as well as empower them with the knowledge, skills, and pathways to action to be effective agents of change today.

Every month, the SDG Students Program hosts a live-streamed webinar (SDSN Youth Live!) to connect students, our hubs, and youth from around the world to discuss pressing issues and solutions. We are delighted to be hosting Sir Robert Watson, former climate advisor to the White House and former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), on Friday May 29 (1pm BST). The event will be chaired by Dario Piselli, outgoing Project Lead at SDSN Youth Solutions Program.

The event will feature a presentation by Sir Watson, followed by a discussion with Piselli and a moderated Q&A. Questions have been pre-submitted by members of SDSN Youth’s global community, and the live audience will also be given a chance to ask their own questions. 

Theme of Discussion

Ozone depletion was a dangerous and seemingly imminent catastrophe just a few decades ago. Yet, due to cross-sectoral coalitions of actors and organisations working together, the use of ozone-depleting substances has since been phased out, demonstrating the feasibility of achieving global cooperation in the protection of the Earth’s planetary boundaries. As the raging COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the threats to human health and well-being arising from rising rates of environmental degradation, the ozone case might yield valuable lessons for young activists seeking to increase countries’ ambitions as part of the global agendas for climate change and biodiversity.

About the Speaker

A recipient of the Blue Planet Prize, Sir Robert Watson is the Strategic Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia. In addition to his past work with the governments of the United States and United Kingdom, and previous roles in international organizations including the World Bank, Sir Watson has overseen the publication of a number of pivotal scientific assessments as former chair of the IPCC and the IPBES. His long-standing contributions to international science-policy interfaces across a range of issue areas put him in an excellent position to inform engaged volunteers about the science of biodiversity and ecosystem services and inspire them to take well-thought actions in pursuit of achievable and specific targets.

Objectives of the Series

As part of SDSN Youth’s commitment to educating our network on the SDGs, we aim to provide valuable lessons for the audience on the following:

1. Scientific Education: Equipping students and volunteers with the key knowledge about the science behind climate change and biodiversity loss so that they can eloquently advocate for bold actions at global, national and local levels.
2. Policy Advocacy: Inspiring and educating students on the importance of driving for policy changes through a cross-sectoral and systems-based approach and narrative, particularly at the interface of government and the scientific community.

The event will be broadcast on the SDSN Youth Facebook page at 1pm British Summer Time on May 29 (Friday).
For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact

Sharif Kazemi, Project Officer, SDG Students Program (sharif.kazemi@sdsnyouth.org)

Stefan Bogensberger, Deputy Project Lead, SDG Students Program (stefan.bogensberger@sdsnyouth.org)