MSDI hosts world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs
In a whirlwind week this month, Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) along with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Australia NZ Pacific (SDSN AusNZPac) co-hosted world-renowned economist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, intensifying conversations in Australia around progress of the SDGs and wellbeing for the country, its cities and people.
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs serves as University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, has been Special Advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary General António Guterres. He is widely recognised for bold and effective strategies to address complex global challenges.
Many activities formed the agenda, including briefings, meetings and roundtables across industry and government hosted by Monash University, SDSN AusNZPac, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Department of Agriculture, Climateworks Centre, Myer Foundation, City of Melbourne, Australian National University (ANU), and Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).
The events were attended by many people from industry across various sectors and discussions revolved around advancing progress towards SDGs and the roles and responsibilities of all actors in an age of geopolitical shifts, climate action, transnational spillovers, technology change, and human-centred services and policies.
Professor Sachs also discussed the role of universities in advancing climate action and the role universities play through research and education in community leadership with an outlook to future impact.
Amidst many high profile meetings, MSDI along with the City of Melbourne and SDSN AusNZPac hosted a public lecture to allow access to highlights from these conversations. In a generous talk followed by a Q&A with Sam Mostyn AO, Professor Sachs talked about Leadership for Sustainable Development and what it means for the wellbeing of Australia and its people.
Watch Jeffrey Sachs' talk in full: