OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT AT HLPF 2024
Measuring and Monitoring Community-Level Emissions: Scalable Qualitative Solutions toward SDGs 1 and 13
Date: Tuesday 16 July 2024
- Time: 13:15-14:30
- Venue: Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations in New York/ livestream
- Organised by: The International Association of Universities (IAU), University of Bergen, Habitable Air Project, (co-organizers), with Zimbabwe, Germany, and Norway, International Science Council (ISC), Global Research Programme on Inequality (GRIP)
Air pollution is a critical issue, exacerbated by urbanization and poverty, that impacts public health and contributes to climate change. With many cities failing to meet the World Health Organization's air quality standards, pollutants like black carbon and sulphur dioxide harm both humans and the environment. This growing problem underscores the urgency highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 – No Poverty, which addresses poverty and urbanization, and SDG 13 – Climate Action, which focuses on climate change impacts, especially on vulnerable populations. Despite the severity of these threats, there is a lack of publicly available information on emissions exposure in poor communities, and regulatory guidelines often do not address local or cross-border issues effectively.
This side event organised by the University of Bergen and the International Association of Universities (IAU), with other partners, aligns with the 2024 High-Level Political Forum's theme of "Eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises" by focusing on SDG 1 and SDG 13. It aims to foster collaboration among marginalized communities, governments, academia, and the private sector to improve the measurement and monitoring of community-level emissions. The event features experts from various sectors, including academia, NGOs, and technology startups, who will discuss policies, technologies, and community-driven practices to tackle emissions. The discussion includes case studies from the United States, South Africa, and Germany, and presents findings from a long-term study on low-cost air monitors in poor communities. The panel will provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and academia to enhance emission measurement and monitoring, ultimately supporting efforts to alleviate poverty and address climate change.
Find the full programme, registration (in-person) and updates here:
The event will be followed by a networking reception in the early evening (same venue). Kindly find more information and registration for the reception here.