Newsletter Volume 9, Issue 4 December 2024

The first Keynote Lecture of the 3^rd ICPE2024 was delivered by Prof. Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi, Director of the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability. The theme and messages of the lecture are directly related to the key theme of ICPE2024, namely, “The Superiority of Press-in Piling towards Sustainable Construction in Tackling Climate Change for Infrastructure Development”.
 
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, are so common that almost everybody has known or at least heard about them, which comprise 17 goals and 169 targets. The SDGs are aimed at being achieved by 2030 by global commitments at all levels, from individuals, communities, companies, and local and national governments to international institutions. In the first part of the lecture on the progress of the 2030 agenda of SDGs, Prof. Yamaguchi surveyed the knowledge level of the audience on the progress through a Sustainable Development Quiz, for example, food insecurity of the world population, the most significant cause for people becoming refugees or migrants. From these quizzes, we realized rather poor knowledge of the progress, but we knew the causes of hindering the progress and priorities to accelerate, namely, reducing the conflict and violence, reforming the international financing system, transitioning around energy, food, and digital connectivity.
 
Prof. Yamaguchi also introduced COP28 Highlights. She especially emphasized the importance of the first Global Stocktake¹⁾. The outcome of GST-1 tells us as the key message that progress has been made towards the Paris Agreement goals, reaching near-universal action, but the efforts are insufficient, and the world is not on track to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, informing countries and stakeholders in updating their climate actions (including NDCs, LT-LEDS) and enhancing international cooperation. Key outcomes of GST-1 are 1) Urgent and deep GHG emission reductions and 1.5^oC aligned pathway, 2) Rapid, transformational, incremental and multi-sectoral adaptation actions and support, and 3) Scaling up and access to finance, technology and capacity-building for climate action. Prof. Yamaguchi summarizes follow-up issues relevant to science and engineering in the implementation of GST outcome, such as synergizing climate action in energy infrastructure and leveraging the full potential of climate technology, pointing out that balancing complex and high-tech solutions with low-tech and accessible options can leverage the full potential of climate technology in the development and implementation of NDCs.
 
Introducing the Annual Flagship Report of UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), which critically discusses root causes, drivers and impact events from an integrated, long-term and systematic risk perspective, Prof. Yamaguchi listed six interconnected risk tipping points analyzed in the 2023 report²⁾ and presented four case studies based on the 2023 report, namely, Lagos floods, Groundwater depletion, Unbearable heat, and Uninsurable future with relevant risk tipping points, illustrating the intricate connections between human activities, environmental changes and disaster risks. From the case studies in a complex world, Prof. Yamaguchi gave messages with hope, “Through analyzing the systems created by our attitudes and choices, we can begin to change these systems to work for the benefit of the world as a whole” and “Solutions must be implemented now with consideration of the interconnectivity to avoid maladaptation and maximize benefit”.
 
In conclusion, Prof. Yamaguchi summarized the expected roles and contributions of civil engineers to climate change, such as developing renewable energy using low-carbon construction materials and carbon capture technology for mitigation and designing infrastructures to survive extreme weather conditions (e.g., Boston Barrier in Lincolnshire, UK) for adaptation, reaffirming that promoting synergetic approaches and integrated solutions are crucial to achieving SDGs. Press-in technology is expected to play a key role for the synergy toward the SDGs.
 
Reference:
1) United Nations Climate Change, Outcome of the first global stocktake | UNFCCC.
2) UNU_EHS, the 2023 Interconnected Disaster report, https://interconnectedrisks.org/