3-C challenges and 3-D solutions

COVID, Conflict and Climate, 3-Cs, seem to be at the core of the planet's complex challenges in 2022 that are now risking global SDGs. Our pledge of 'Leaving no one Behind' is failing is nearly forgotten. We are far from meeting SDGs, and we already left so many behind last year. We are left with a dilemma as to which is the case, and which is the effect when the world sees an interlinked matrix of health, education, climate, food, violence and poverty.

2022 was a Catch-22 situation, a paradoxical situation from which the world and individuals cannot escape because of conflicting objectives and limitations of humans. Let us welcome 2023. Number 23 is termed a number of angels. Let us wish that 2023 is the year of angelic proportions.

The dawn of the New Year is also the dawn of hope and dews rejuvenation. SDG 16 for peace and SDG 17 for partnership are needed in 2023, more than any time before. Peace is needed not just across national borders but also in our homes and our minds.

If there is one section of the world community that has the potential to reverse the adverse trends, it is youth. Youth have the capabilities to mould their minds and acute their actions. They can go beyond the innovations and incubate the ideas into reality.

That precisely is the reason why the movement of Smart Campus Cloud Network (sccnhub.com) needs to be strengthened. The SCCN encourages transforming Campus of universities into living labs for SDGs and Centre for Learning by Doing for NOT Zero-Net Zero. 260+ universities in SCCN which now has 450+ members have taken the pledge for Not Zero-Net Zero and begun work to reach carbon neutrality.

The journey to net zero needs a 3-D solution: Disclosure, Digitalization and Decarbonization. Disclosure helps share information and access climate-friendly policies and technologies. Digitalisation enhances efficiency and together with disclosure accelerates the journey. Decarbonisation contributes to making us free from the addiction to climate change.

END

 Dr Rajendra Shende

Former Director UNEP, IIT Alumni,

Prime Mover Smart Campus Cloud Network 

Coordinating lead author of IPCC.