University of California, Berkeley
College of Natural Resources, Center for Sustainable Resource Development
The Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) at the University of California, Berkeley, offers a unique learning opportunity for mid-career practitioners and decision-makers to broaden their knowledge and perspectives on environmental and natural resource science, policy, management, and leadership. Through exposure to innovative sustainability approaches and dialogue, ELP participants develop the tools and skills necessary to meet environmental goals that also reduce poverty and social conflict. Established in August 2000 with seed funding from UC Berkeley alumni Carolyn and Richard Beahrs, the ELP offers an annual three week summer certificate course at UC Berkeley, and coordinates the Berkeley ELP Alumni Network with nearly 400 members from over 90 countries. The ELP also supports post-training conservation and sustainable development collaborative projects with alumni, their organizations and the UC Berkeley community of faculty, staff, and students.
ELP 2001 Alumnus Yani Septiani and other panelists speak on Gender and REDD+
The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Durban, South Africa in December 2011. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCC, from Costa Rica, said at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, on January 19th: “Without doubt, the Durban Climate Change Conference was the most encompassing and furthest reaching conference in the history of the climate change negotiations.” While some are optimistic about the conference outcomes, which include a decision by Parties to adopt a universal legal agreement on climate change as soon as possible, and no later than 2015, others feel that Durban hit many of the same road blocks as previous COPs in terms of making real progress, and that we may be running out of time in our battle to protect the planet for future generations.
Numerous ELP alumni participated in the COP17, and here they reflect on their experiences. Yani Septiani (ELP 2011) highlights methodological guidance for REDD+ related activities as an important product of Durban, and Denis Sonwa (ELP 2010) notes the important progress made at the conference on REDD+ negotiations. Osmond Mugweni (ELP 2008) remarks that he learned as much from the city of Durban’s climate change planning as from the conference itself, writing: “Africa is complex, unpredictable, diverse and wonderful. It is also one of the most vulnerable continents on the planet, when it comes to impacts of climatic change. As an African city, we found Durban to have been remarkably innovative in its unique response to climate change.” Negash Teklu (ELP 2011) comes away from the conference optimistic about the future while Hafijul Khan (ELP 2011) is wary of the Durban Platform and the mounting delays in directed action in the face of irreversible climate impacts. All of the alums reiterate the need to make real progress on climate change strategies before it’s too late.
Goldman Environmental Prize Goes to ELP Alumnus, May 2011
ELP Alums Report Back After the UNFCCC COP16 in Cancun, Mexico February, 2011