Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to taking action on climate change and strengthening global partnerships to address this issue, collaborating on innovative solutions for a sustainable and resilient future.
Climate Action Beacon at the COP 28
As disasters and heat intensify, can the world meet the urgency of the moment at the COP28 climate talks? - 30 November 2023
Prof Brendan Mackey, Director, Climate Action Beacon, is off to COP 28 with a packed schedule - Launching the Forest carbon and Protected Area app - Speaking at the COP side event: Delivering integrated nature & climate action in the Global Stocktake & beyond - Speaking at the Climate & Canopy: Amplifying action for SDG 13 and 15 through primary forest conservation - Speaking at the "From Agreement to Action: Harnessing 30X30 to tackle climate change" - and participating in the Collaborators Roundtable ‐ We Are Family. In the meantime read his take on COP in The Conversation.
COP 28 Twitter/X Climate Sentiment Dashboard - 30 November 2023
The Climate Action Beacon's big data research project built a custom dashboard to track twitter posts by Australians before, during and after the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2023. Applying big data analytics and expert analysis, the dashboard has been using key words to analyse Australian twitter feeds in close to real-time since 17 November 2023.
Natural Forests and Mitigation Policy Brief - 30 November 2023
This Science information Policy Briefing Note from the Griffith University Climate Action Beacon has been prepared for the United Nations Climate COP 28. This Briefing Note provides information on the contribution of natural forests, including primary forests and intact forest landscapes, to climate mitigation and meeting the Paris Agreement’s long term temperature goal and intermediate targets as guided by science.
COP 28 Side Event - Climate & Canopy: Amplifying Action for SDG 13 & 15 through Primary Forest Conservation - 8 December 2023
Join Prof Brendan Mackey at COP 28 in this side event on primary forests which will foster better understanding and awareness of the importance of enhancing the conservation of primary forests, and explore concrete next steps to be taken to champion primary forest conservation, seamlessly intertwining the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
COP 28 Side Event - Delivering integrated nature and climate action in the Global Stocktake (GST) and beyond - 10 December 2023
The GST presents a critical opportunity to integrate climate and biodiversity action across the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Panelists, including Prof Mackey, will set out what is needed from the GST at COP28, share on-the-ground case studies, explore the significance of ecosystem integrity for evaluating approaches, and outline a pathway to prevent perverse outcomes for nature and people.
COP 28 Panel Discussion - Integrating Indigenous’ Perspectives into Higher Education Curricula - 12 December 2023
Join Prof Brendan Mackey at COP 28 explore the integration of Indigenous perspectives and content into higher education. This panel will facilitate discussions on educational experiences, effective pedagogical approaches, and contemplate an initial roadmap for curriculum development. The panel will also address strategies for evaluating the impact of introducing Indigenous perspectives into university curricula.
Radio interview - Prof Mackey speaks to Matthew Pantellis about COP 28 (Fiveaa) - 30 November 2023
Prof Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University speaks with Matthew Pantelis (Fiveaa) about COP 28, the conference addressing climate change.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Technical Briefs for COP 28 - November 2023
This IUCN Technical Brief - Connecting the Dots: Achieving synergistic action for global biodiversity and climate goals utilising the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - concludes that given the functional roles of biodiversity in ecosystem processes, its protection and restoration is essential for conserving carbon reservoirs in the biosphere and achieving the mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement.
Read the IUCN Technical Brief about Connecting the Dots
Also read the IUCN Technical Brief about Primary Forests, Ecosystem Integrity & Climate Change
Global Environment Fund Project briefing notes and submissions
Retaining & recovering forest ecosystem integrity is essential for long term success of the Road Map
Forest Ecosystem Integrity and Article 5 of the Paris Agreement
COP 16 – SBI 5 Policy Brief: Protecting and Restoring Ecosystem Integrity to Maximize Synergies
Technical Brief UNFCCC COP30
Logging in primary tropical forests is not sustainable, even with best practices
Views on Item 5 Biodiversity and Climate Change and Item 6 on the expanded programme of work
Research Informing Policy Briefing Notes
Briefing Note 2/25 - Accounting for the Uncounted: The Global Climate Impact of Militaries
This policy briefing from The War on Climate shows that militaries are responsible for an estimated 5.5% of annual global GHG emissions, yet no country is obliged to report them, creating a significant ‘military emissions gap’. It highlights how everyday military activity and the emissions from armed conflicts remain uncounted, even as global military spending reaches $2.7 trillion. The note underscores the urgent need for mandatory reporting and emissions reductions in line with the Paris Agreement.
Briefing Note 1/25 - Militaries, armed conflicts, nature and the climate crisis
The first policy briefing from The War on Climate examines the intersection between militaries, armed conflicts, nature and the climate crisis. Amongst other things, this encompasses how the management of the estimated 1-6% of the world’s land surface allocated to military training areas can influence emissions and nature, as well as how the conduct of hostilities, and post-war recovery policies, affect carbon sinks such as tropical forests. This outlines entry points for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ahead of its World Conservation Congress.
Briefing note 4/24 - Priorities for synergistic climate and biodiversity action
This 2024 technical brief for COP29 advocates establishing a work program to prioritise ecosystem protection and restoration. It calls for integrated efforts across global frameworks to combat climate and biodiversity crises by safeguarding high-integrity ecosystems, enhancing carbon storage, and preventing degradation.
Policy Briefing Note 1/23 - Natural forests in climate mitigation and limiting to 1.5 degrees
This Science information Policy Briefing Note has been prepared for the United Nations Climate COP 28. This Briefing Note provides information on the contribution of natural forests, including primary forests and intact forest landscapes, to climate mitigation and meeting the Paris Agreement’s long term temperature goal and intermediate targets as guided by science.
Policy Discussion Papers
Discussion Paper 3/23 - Critical reforms for effective and timely action to prevent Irreparable harm
The third-released Policy Discussion Paper of 2023 by the Griffith Climate Action Beacon - Critical reforms for effective and timely action to prevent irreparable harm to Earth's climate and biodiversity: A call for a Joint CBD & UNFCCC SBSTA Work Plan on Climate and Biodiversity Action.
Discussion Paper 1/22 - Managing Climate Change Risks to World Heritage Using the In Danger List
This Discussion Paper considers how the World Heritage Convention’s ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’ could be used more effectively for managing sites threatened by climate change or where climate change has already caused significant degradation. The purpose of the paper is to stimulate ideas and discussion to help further develop and finalise the draft Policy Document on climate action for World Heritage which is due to be adopted by the General Assembly of State Parties to the Convention in 2023.
Discussion Paper 1/21 - "Primary Forests" Report for UN FAO
In March 2021, the Griffith University, Climate Action Beacon, released a discussion paper - A Review of Definitions, Data, and Methods for Country-level Assessment and Reporting of Primary Forest. The paper is intended to facilitate discussion among national correspondents and other experts in workshops hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The discussion paper - i) reviews and assesses definitions relating to primary forests; ii) collates and evaluates datasets and methods currently available for measuring the extent of primary forests; and iii) provides options for defining, assessing and reporting on primary forests.
Expert Submissions
Our impact
Through our involvement and engagement across the sector, the Climate Action Beacon provides advice for and inform policies aligned to SDG themes. A 2024 review of work from CAB researchers found that we have informed policy development across the globe, including – but not limited to – that developed by the Governments of South Africa, Finland, Canada and New Zealand, NGOs like the World Wide Fund for Nature, as well as the World Health Organisation, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, IPCC , UNICEF , UN Office of Disaster Risk Reduction, Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and more!
Our partners
Relationships with regional NGOs and governments for SDG policy partners include:
- Australian Rainforests Conservation Society
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Centre for Appropriate Technology Limited
- Climate and Health Alliance
- Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
- Community Media Training Organisation
- Ergon Energy
- Frankfurt Zoological Society
- Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Pacific Network
- Gold Coast University Hospital
- Great Eastern Ranges Initiative
- Indigenous Technology
- Kathmandu Forestry College and the University of Southern Queensland
- Northern Territory Government
- Oxley Creek Catchment Association
- Partnership for Policy Integrity
- PowerWater
- Queensland Chief Scientist
- Red Panda Network
- Shoalhaven City Council
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- e-flux Architecture
- Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- The International Conservation Fund of Canada
- Torres Strait Island Regional Council
- Wild Heritage
- Woodwell Climate Research Center
To find out more about our research with our partners and the impact on their policies, practices, and interventions
