IISD Offers Expertise on the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are set to be adopted at a United Nations Summit from 25-27 September.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development, one of the world’s leading think tanks on sustainable development, has experts available to offer information and perspective on the SDGs. We can help journalists cut through the noise, explain what the SDGs are and mean for countries, as well as offer our expert commentary on specific goals and targets (see the list of experts below for more information).

• Experts on the SDGs

Scott Vaughan, President-CEO

Scott can contextualize the SDGs, commenting on why they matter to governments, citizens and businesses; and how the goals can (and should) align with national and sub-national sustainable development strategies.

Livia Bizikova, Director, Knowledge for Integrated Solutions

Livia can speak broadly on the SDGS, their implementation and adoption, and their relationship to the previous Millennium Development Goals.

Lynn Wagner, Manager, Knowledge Management Projects

Lynn tracks the major Post-2015 negotiations and can draw links among the SDGs, financing for development, and climate change negotiations.

• Governance and Accountability

Mark Halle, Vice-President, Strategy & Executive Director, IISD-Europe

Mark is our expert on various accountability and governance issues surrounding the SDGs.

• Resilience

Anne Hammill, Director, Resilience

Anne can speak to Goal 1, specifically target 5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.

• Hunger and Food Security

Carin Smaller, Advisor on Agriculture and Investment

Carin is able to advise on Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

• Water

Dimple Roy, Director, Water

Dimple can speak on Goal 6, an in particular target 6.5 on integrated water resources management.

• Economic Growth

Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder, Director, Economic Law and Policy  

Nathalie can speak on Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; as well as to the role of investment policy frameworks in fostering poverty alleviation.

• Energy and Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Peter Wooders, Director, Energy

Peter can comment on Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. He can also speak about the need to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.

• Infrastructure Finance

Oshani Perera, Director, Public Procurement and Infrastructure Finance

Oshani can speak to Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• Climate Change

Philip Gass, Senior Researcher, Energy

Philip can speak about Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

To arrange an interview with any of the experts above, email Damon Vis-Dunbar at dvis-dunbar@iisd.org (in Geneva).