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Sustainable development
The CNRS is committed to providing responses to the planetary challenge of climate change. Through its research and innovations, it plays a role in a global dynamic structured around the sustainable development goals defined by the UN.
What are the UN sustainable development goals?
The UN has set 17 major goals that aim to make our societies fairer, more peaceful and more sustainable, taking into account planetary limitations and in the context of global change. They are founded in scientific understanding and they require the involvement of everyone.
What are the concrete initiatives that the CNRS has put in place?
The CNRS generates knowledge that is used to work towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs): The freedom and the creativity its researchers enjoy means that they can make discoveries and contribute to innovations that work towards the SDGs.
It plays a role in national and international initiatives such as the French National Observatory on the effects of climate change, and the Foundation for Biodiversity Research. It leverages the expertise of its researchers on United Nations panels for climate and biodiversity (IPCC, IPBES). In fact it is one of the major worldwide contributors of data used by the IPCC. It steers or co-steers a number of Priority Research Programmes and Equipments (PEPR) that are focused on societal and environmental challenges.
- The 'Decarbonisation of Industry' acceleration PEPR| CNRS
- The 'Decarbonated Hydrogen' acceleration PEPR | CNRS
- The 'Recyclability, Recycling and Reincorporation of Recycled Materials' acceleration PEPR | CNRS
- The 'Solutions for a Sustainable City and Territorial Innovations' acceleration PEPR | CNRS
- The 'Bridge' (south-west Indian Ocean) exploratory PEPR | CNRS
- The 'FairCarbon' (carbon) exploratory PEPR | CNRS
- The 'OneWater' (water) exploratory PEPR | CNRS
- The 'Subsoil' (resources) exploratory PEPR | CNRS
- The 'Solu-BioD' (nature-based solutions) exploratory PEPR | CNRS
- The 'Traccs' (climate) exploratory PEPR | CNRS
Finally, the CNRS acts directly in terms of trying to reduce its own environmental impact, with the implementation of a low carbon transition plan and the creation of a network of sustainable development officers across all its institutions. What is the purpose of this? To measure and reduce the environmental impact of activities involved in research and supporting research, build on sustainable initiatives in the units and raise staff awareness.
It also takes part in and supports the research group Labo1point5, which produces tools and methods that show trajectories for reducing the environmental impact of research.
The CNRS and the 17 SDG
1. No poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the goals
Contact : agenda2030@cnrs.fr
Photo credit : © Hubert RAGUET / LECA / CNRS Image