ACUNS ANNUAL MEETING 2025: Environmental Multilateralism and Human Development

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The 2025 ACUNS Annual Conference in Nairobi will address the triple planetary crisis鈥攃limate change, nature loss, and pollution鈥攚ithin the context of increasing global conflict and deepening inequalities. As the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and home to the UN Environment Assembly, Nairobi serves as the global center for multilateral deliberations on environmental governance. This year鈥檚 theme highlights the critical role of multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the forthcoming Global Plastics Treaty, in addressing these interconnected crises. The conference will explore how multilateralism must evolve to integrate environmental and social justice, with a focus on inclusivity, transparency, and consensus-building. Discussions will examine the intersections of environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic development and explore the roles of small states, Indigenous communities, international organizations, and civil society in shaping a resilient and just future. Participants will assess the challenges and opportunities in strengthening global agreements and addressing the disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation on vulnerable populations while also examining how environmental governance can contribute to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and global stability.

The application is now open for the submission of abstracts听that propose papers, policy briefs, roundtables, and research-policy tools from scholars, students, practitioners, and the United Nations staff and delegates and for volunteers to serve as a Chair or Discussant until听Friday, 10 January 2025, 11:59PM EST.听Selected participants will be notified in听February 2025.听

Submissions are invited under one of the following broad thematic categories:

  • Multilateral Environmental Agreements:听The Path Forward for Climate, Nature, Pollution, and Social Justice
  • Peace and Global Security:听Addressing Conflict and Inequity through Ecological Solutions
  • Indigenous Communities and Civil Society:听Inclusivity, Transparency, and Consensus-Building in Global Environmental and Social Governance
  • The Science-Technology-Policy Interface听in Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis, Advancing Social Equity, and Reducing听Inequity
  • The Role of Small States Leadership听in Shaping Global Environmental and Social Solutions
  • Environment, Sustainable and Human Development听in achieving Equity in Multilateral Environmental Governance
  • Urbanism and Human Settlement
  • Social Justice, Inequity and the Environment:听Assessing sustainability and distribution, measuring inequity, and identifying elements of social justice in local, national, and multilateral environmental governance
  • Inclusive Economies and Finance for Environment and Social Governance:听Beyond GDP; From Decarbonization to Ecosystem Restoration and Equity

When forming panels, participants are encouraged to ensure diversity, with particular attention to geography and gender.