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posted 08/20/02

Contact: Mary Tobin
845-365-8607 or mtobin@ei.columbia.edu

Columbia Scientists Bring Scientific Advances to World Summit
Earth Institute to Host Event on Strategies for Sustainable Development

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg beginning Monday August 26, 2002, Columbia University researchers will present scientific advances that deserve implementation now, and several more in critical areas where immediate investment is required to relieve extreme poverty and get ahead of global climate change risks.

The Earth Institute at Columbia University will send a six-person delegation to the Johannesburg summit, representing experts from the fields of sustainable development, water, energy, health, agricultural productivity, biodiversity and ecosystem management, as well as climate.

The Earth Institute will also host an event in Johannesburg.

Science and Sustainability: The Earth Institute at Columbia University, Brunch/Discussion at the WSSD in Johannesburg

Topic:	Investing in Science and Technology: Strategies for Successful Sustainable Development
When:	Sunday, September 1, from 10:00am-12:30pm
Where:	Water Berry Room,Wanderers Club, Ubuntu Village, Gate 2

Brunch will be served.

The delegation will be led by Jeffrey Sachs, Earth Institute Director and Special Advisor to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Sachs will also speak and participate in several panel discussions at the summit. [Click Here for Sachs' WSSD Speaking Schedule].

In addition, Earth Institute at Columbia delegates are:

Dr. Klaus Lackner, Energy

Dr. Roberto Lenton, Water

Dr. Don Melnick, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management

Dr. John Mutter, Climate

Dr. Pedro Sanchez, Agriculture (2002 World Food Prize Laureate)

Limited availability remains for one-on-one interviews with all Earth Institute delegates. For more information or requests please contact Mariellen Gallagher 917-453-3682, mg1152@columbia.edu, or Mary Tobin 845-365-8607, mtobin@ldeo.columbia.edu

Click HERE to see the delegates' broad recommendations on what science needs to know and what it can do with existing knowledge for each of the above topics. The document is also available for download in PDF format.

In May of 2002 the Earth Institute hosted a major conference on sustainability issues called State of the Planet 2002. Scientists speaking at Columbia University expressed optimism that the technical means now exist to end worldwide starvation in the next generation. Results of the conference including archived web broadcasts of all presentations may be viewed at the Columbia Earth Institute website, http://www.earth.columbia.edu/sop2002/.

Compared to the stakes involved, and the realistic promise for dramatic breakthroughs if global R&D efforts are enhanced, current investment is miniscule. A decision in Johannesburg to bolster the world's scientific and technological capabilities in sustainable development would set the world on a much more secure, equitable, and sustainable course for our new century.

Related Links:

08/29/02
Jeffrey Sachs Interviewed by BBC World News
Rich states 'failing' poor

Jeffrey Sachs' WSSD speaking schedule

Jeffrey Sachs' Biographical Information

Earth Institute Delegates' Recommendations
HTML Page or PDF Download

Scientific Advances Must be Used to Benefit Underdeveloped World, Says the Earth Institute's John Mutter, Vice Chair, Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Audio Clips

State of the Planet 2002 Conference Web Site
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/sop2002

State of the Planet 2002 Newsletter (PDF Download)
stateofplanetNL.pdf

Official United Nations Web Site for the Johannesburg Summit 2002
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/

About The Earth Institute
The Earth Institute at Columbia University is the world's leading academic center for the integrated study of Earth, its environment and society. The Earth Institute builds upon excellence in the core disciplines — earth sciences, biological sciences, engineering sciences, social sciences and health sciences — and stresses cross-disciplinary approaches to complex problems. Through research, training and global partnerships, it mobilizes science and technology to advance sustainable development, while placing special emphasis on the needs of the world's poor. For more information, visit www.earth.columbia.edu.