On 27 June 2018, Rosina Bierbaum, STAP Chair, was invited to comment following the presentation by Johan Rockstrom to the GEF Assembly.
In addition, in her closing presentation to the GEF Assembly, she reiterated that STAP’s papers for the Assembly had covered three of the essential elements for a successful GEF-7 – integration, innovation, and learning, drawing out some of the key messages on these elements from the Assembly round tables. Looking ahead to the next Assembly in 2022, Dr. Bierbaum, identified novel entities as an emerging issue, in particular gene editing (modifying the DNA of organisms), technological critical elements (rare earth elements needed for green and emerging technologies), and cellular agriculture (producing livestock products from cell culture, without the animal itself). Noting that the digital revolution was one of the six transformations Dr. Johan Rockstrom had referred to in the opening Plenary, the Message from Science, Dr. Bierbaum said that while novel entities had great potential to have positive effects on the earth system, it was important to be mindful that there could also be downsides, for example, CFCs on ozone deletion, and the effects of persistent organic pollutants on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health.
STAP Chair on Youth and Sustainability
"Youth can think across the boundaries of science, economics, and policy and look for solutions in that composite state" - Rosina Bierbaum, Chair, STAP
STAP Chair on How the GEF can foster innovation
