IEM IN THE ROARING 2020's

THE ROLE OF INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE ROARING 2020's

The roaring 20s of the 20th century were characterized by economic growth and prosperity following the first world war and the flu pandemic of 1918 which killed over 50 million people. 100 years later, the world is emerging out of a global pandemic and facing the biggest environmental crisis it has ever known (Climate Change). Sustainable economic growth is needed worldwide if the 2020s are going to roar.

What is the role of IEM in the 2020s? What tools do we have to help achieve sustainable economic development while enabling resilience and preserving a world for tomorrow?

In exploring this theme further IAIAsa would like to promote free thinking in this ever-growing environmental space, while directing delegates to consider the following areas when presenting:

"Integrating gender equality into IEM in the 2020's" Studies have shown that the promotion of a gender equal society results in peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth. Integration of gender equality is to be explored further to enable the roaring 2020's with a world equal for all.

"Transition in environmental laws adapting to meet the needs of IEM in the 2020s" Where Climate change, resilience, socio economic sustainability and poverty are drivers in this ever-changing world, laws evolve and adapt to meet the needs of all. In this struggle between the natural environment, economics, poverty and resilience how is the legal system evolving and is this an adaptation to benefit

all in the roaring 2020's?

"Just Energy Transition (JET) is a mechanism to drive the world and South Africa to a NET ZERO economy." JET is the new buzz word, used among crowds of people when considering embarking on development of a perceived green economy and a net zero world, which has resulted in being a major catalyst in the development of renewable energy. However, if we look into the future how will JET influence the social, economic and natural environments, and is JET the solution to the worlds problems? And how do we address the pros and cons, while wearing our environmental hats in the roaring 2020's?

"Impacts of increased poverty and social constraints are key factors in IEM's in the 2020's" Political and world leaders are gravely concerned at the ever-increasing poverty and social constraints amongst the third world. In recent studies it has been shown that there is a strong correlation between environmental degradation and poverty, what mechanisms can be used in the context of IEM, to address the rapid increasing poverty in South Africa and how will this look, in the context of IEM's in the roaring 2020's?