Innovation, synergy and humility

What are the transformations needed in the Global North and South to achieve sustainable development that leaves no one behind? What role can international cooperation (IC) play in combating global warming? How can it contribute to mitigating this phenomenon, reduce risks and strengthen the resilience of affected communities? How must IC itself be transformed to achieve its objectives? These are some of the questions that will be debated during the International Cooperation Forum Switzerland being organised by the SDC and its partners.

During plenary sessions and workshops, decision-makers, academics and representatives of the private sector, IC and civil society in the North and South will outline solutions. Experts have called attention to the importance of integrating mitigation and adaptation measures in all IC programmes as well as at the policy level in developing countries to support communities that are particularly vulnerable to global warming. As Gabriela Blattner of the Federal Office for the Environment explains: "Along with food security and ecological farming, agricultural projects must also promote climate adaptation."

"It is imperative for IC to align its activities with the Paris Agreement," says Françoise Salamé Guex, who heads the Climate Network of the Economic Cooperation and Development Division at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). "The approach is widely accepted, but the devil lies in the implementation." The commitment made by industrial nations in 2009 to mobilise USD 100 billion a year by 2020 has not been fulfilled. "The most vulnerable countries and individuals urgently need these resources," notes the NGO Helvetas.

To move forward, all parties must work in tandem. Yet, "no synergies are emerging, with even the most insignificant actors stuck on their own solutions. The projects should utilise swarm intelligence," says agricultural scientist Urs Niggli, president of agroecology.science, the institute of sustainable food and farming systems. "It is crucial that science, consultancy and practice work cohesively on the basis of mutual respect and humility."

"Academic institutions must be flexible and demonstrate greater respect for the knowledge of indigenous peoples and women," emphasises Niggli. He illustrates this with an example: "Many rural communities possess traditional knowledge about harvesting water and dew that can be used for restoring severely degraded agricultural land and grasslands." Projects in Malawi and Uganda have shown that drinking water supply and wastewater management significantly improve when women are placed in management positions.

However, Niggli also points out that achieving high productivity with low environmental risks needs to be backed with the latest agricultural research and new technologies. Both are promising believes Adina Rom, who is economist at the Nadel Centre for Development and Cooperation at the ETH Zurich and director of the ETH for development (ETH4D). She points to the steep fall in prices of solar energy in recent years as an example. "We need more innovation to develop technologies that are accessible to particularly disadvantaged communities and which can help combat poverty and inequality."

In fact, international cooperation can be a driver for innovation says Sabin Bieri, director of the interdisciplinary Centre for Development and Environment at the University of Bern. Digital technologies could provide valuable opportunities for enhancing participation. "They can boost active public involvement in negotiating climate actions, facilitate the creation of public opinion and thereby expedite the acceptance of the decisions that are taken," says Bieri. She emphasises that, "Social approval is critical for the successful implementation of measures." If such measures place a burden on communities, social safety nets or initiatives must be provided to increase resilience, such as through guaranteed access to land.

One of the key factors for transformation is agriculture. The sector is the main source of employment in developing countries, not merely in rural areas but also in cities and megacities. "Urban areas are likely to gain prominence as food producers, recycling enterprises and information hubs if food system resilience is strengthened and the risks reduced," says Niggli. "However, consumption must be cut down. The aim is to stop wastage, re-use unavoidable waste and drastically slash meat consumption."

The challenge lies in achieving growth without harming the environment and depleting natural resources. Rom notes, "It is critical that growth is not linked to burning fossil fuels," which continue to be subsidised in many countries. "This keeps fuel prices artificially low even though technologies that release significantly less CO₂ should be given preference. IC could collaborate with local authorities that wish to change this situation over time," she says. There are projects that contribute to reducing both poverty and carbon emissions, for instance by compensating communities for keeping forests intact.

Guex believes that a green circular economy is necessary. She adds that, "Positive impacts must be reinforced by facilitating access to sustainable finance and mobilising green investments by the private sector."

International cooperation must reduce its own carbon footprint to scale up positive impacts. "It must keep track of emissions, reduce wherever possible and compensate for what cannot be avoided or reduced," states Helvetas. An obvious corollary is cutting down on air travel. "The pandemic has actually given a tremendous fillip to this. Virtual meetings are proving more useful than we imagined two years ago," says Bieri.

The mode of transportation employees use to commute to work is also important, and the buildings in use can certainly be made more energy efficient. Bieri's recommendation to staff is to proactively contribute their ideas for climate action at the workplace. "This would need incentives or even continuing education programmes."

International Cooperation Forum Switzerland

ETH4D      
Agroecology.science