One Plus One is Eleven

New Math of Global Cooperation

"Reinvigorating Multilateralism" was the theme of the report, 'Our Common Agenda' released by Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) one year back. UN SG's report had an important message which was kind of a vaccine for multiple crises gripping the world. That vaccine was a blend of multilateralism, international cooperation and uniting by sharing for caring.

One year on we are nowhere near building a united front to deal with multiple crises: climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts between countries, biodiversity loss, air pollution, and food and energy shortages. The world burdened with multiple shocks is far off the track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals contained in the resolution passed by UN General Assembly in 2015. That 'Agenda 2030' had an ambitious target of achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) by 2030. We are just about 8 years away.

Unfortunately, climate catastrophe is not showing any signs of abating. Global greenhouse gas emissions are at their highest levels in human history – and rising. The rate of extinction of species on earth is unprecedented. 7 million people, mostly women and children die due to air pollution every year.

Is humanity waking up to act?

United Nations 'Transforming Education Summit' in September 2022 in New York could be a ray of hope.

The largest-ever gathering of learners and teachers will provide an opportunity to mobilize ambition, action, solidarity and solutions; to reimagine education systems fit for the future. Can there be really transformative changes?

If the UNESCO report, titled 'Reimagining our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Education,' is to be the anchor of transformation, then one can hope to see the sea changes particularly because it calls for :

• Education be "reinvented"
  
• Knowledge it provides is "anchored in social, economic, and environmental justice."
  
• Teaching focus is less on individual accomplishment and more on cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity.
  
• Curricula are more interdisciplinary rather than organized by different subjects.
  
• Emphasize intercultural and ecological learning

Reports, Recommendations and Summits galore. The remaining 2022 and 2023 will see more summits and more reports. But real action on the ground?

It is in the hands and on the steps of youth. Message from youth to world leaders is a bottom-up approach. But that approach should not be just ' protests by youth aimed at world leaders. It must be action-packed messages from university campuses where youth live their aspirations. Campuses are living laboratories of the future. That's where the actions should begin.

Smart Campus Cloud Network (www. sccnhub.com)is the global network of universities to make youth ' Future Ready'. Future is new math of collaboration that states one plus one is eleven. It proves that sharing is caring. It proclaims that opening the minds is closing the crisis.

 Dr Rajendra Shende, 

Chairman - TERRE Policy Centre,

Former Director UNEP, IIT Alumni,

Prime Mover Smart Campus Cloud Network 

Coordinating lead author of IPCC.