About 3rd International Conference 2024

Image

Introduction

The sustainability agenda 2030 remains at the forefront of the global development efforts. The world is increasingly confronted with an array of sustainable development challenges that span environmental, social, and economic dimensions. These challenges are multifaceted and interconnected, requiring comprehensive and coordinated efforts to address them effectively. The key global sustainable development confronting the world include climate change with its risks to ecosystems, economies, and societies; loss of biodiversity and its attendant services to humanity; habitat destruction, environmental degradation which exacerbates social and economic vulnerabilities, widening social inequality, poverty and hunger, water security, energy transition, rapid urbanization.  

Addressing these sustainable development challenges requires coordinated action at local, national, and global levels, informed by scientific evidence, stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to equity and social justice. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which are part of Agenda 2030 provide a framework for collective action to achieve a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for all. However, progress to-date on the SDGs, midterm review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement gives mixed results. 

Geographic science and knowledge is indispensable in resolving sustainable development challenges. Contextual knowledge, coupled with harnessing emerging technologies are critical ingredients in building resilient societies which Agenda 2030 aspires to achieve. The 3rd International Conference on Geographical Science for Resilient Communities, Ecosystems and Livelihoods Under Global Environmental Change (Gorilla) is geared at contributing to the realization of the Global Development Agenda 2030. The transdisciplinary conference thus seeks to address issues of “how can science can help in bridging gaps and addressing sustainable development deficits”. The conference is a great opportunity for conceptual, empirical and theoretical conversations on pressing sustainability and resilience in a transdisciplinary manner. About 200 participants are expected to participate in the conference.

Objectives

The 3rd International GORILLA conference aims to take stock of margining geographic oriented science and knowledge for advancing the sustainability agenda. The GORILLA conference seeks harness geographic science to advance knowledge and foster positive change in understanding and addressing sustainable development challenges and opportunities at local, regional, national, and global scales. The specific objectives are;

1. Facilitate exchange of contemporary resilience building knowledge and innovations in a transdisciplinary manner.
2. Enhance dialogue to bridge the science-policy-practice to address deficits for addressing pressing resilience challenges and shape policy agenda’s.
3. To enhance capacities and capabilities of early career scientists through mentorship and dedicated trainings focused on the sustainability agenda
4. Increase knowledge and scientific outputs from Sub Saharan Africa by facilitating special issue publications
5. Provide an opportunity for increased networking and beneficial partnerships from attendees with varied backgrounds and professional affiliations to address complex sustainable development challenges.