Ecological transition and sustainable development: CIRAD has signed a declaration of commitments

Institutional news 24 January 2024
National research organizations and higher education and research establishments are in the front line in the push to achieve carbon neutrality in France by 2050, notably by respecting the Paris Agreement on climate and the Kunming-Montreal Agreement on biodiversity, and in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. At the end of a day of discussions and debate on 22 January, organized with the support of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the leaders of 16 such French organizations, including CIRAD, signed a collective commitment to contribute to tackling the challenges of the ecological transition for sustainable development, through their research activities and changes in their operations.
The signatories of the declaration of commitments relating to the ecological transition and sustainable development © MESR

The signatories of the declaration of commitments relating to the ecological transition and sustainable development © MESR

The Ministry of Higher Education and Research has drafted a climate and biodiversity plan to help every stakeholder achieve this transition. In particular, the plan requires French organizations to work together to identify levers and build the conditions for a successful ecological transition within their establishments.

Each research organization will be expected to play its part in collective efforts to achieve the ambitious targets France has set in terms of reducing carbon, energy and environmental footprints, by rolling out a "sustainable development-social and environmental responsibility" master plan.

Research programmes will also contribute to exploring and building solutions for a successful ecological transition.

The declaration commits its signatories to:

  • Planning and implementing a research strategy encompassing all of its social and environmental impacts;
  • Supporting the production and dissemination of knowledge and innovations that offer solutions in response to societal issues;
  • Drafting a policy of societal responsibility on the part of our organizations and putting that strategy into practice;
  • Fostering change within our organizations by bringing our staff on board;
  • Setting an example in terms of applying the objectives set by State ecological planning to our establishments;
  • Sharing the progress made and transition operations launched within our establishments each year;
  • Building partnerships on an international level and interdisciplinary operations on the issues surrounding sustainability.

See the list of signatories and the press release from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

See also