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The one-day conference will host a panel of experts and an engaged audience to discuss policy progress and governance, including Scottish Government鈥檚 recently updated 鈥楤iodiversity Strategy to 2045鈥� which sets out the nation鈥檚 plans and governance for restoring and regenerating Scotland鈥檚 biodiversity across land and sea, with the help of thriving and sustainable communities.

Scotland鈥檚 natural capital has declined by over 15% since 1950 and a has exposed it as one of the most nature-depleted nations in the world. It also demonstrates a worrying trend in suffering wildlife with a 49% decline in Scottish seabirds across 11 species; a decline in the distribution of flowering plants; and 11% of overall species threatened with national extinction.

The event has been organised by the 亚博体育官网 Law School, led by Nicholas Maulet, SFHEA, and lecturer in energy law and policy. He said: 鈥淔ollowing the UN鈥檚 COP15 on biodiversity, and Scotland鈥檚 recently renewed policy ambition, this conference is very timely for 亚博体育官网 to contribute towards the North East鈥檚 community鈥檚 awareness of biodiversity decline and understanding of the nation鈥檚 official approach to manage and restore Scotland鈥檚 natural environment and stop its Natural Capital鈥檚 decline.

鈥淎s a University, sustainability is at the heart of everything that we aim to achieve and hosting this builds on our own growing ambition to widen access and conversation as well as contribute towards global challenges, underpinned by the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals.

鈥淭he event also promotes the role of Scottish higher education in fostering an increased understanding of Scotland鈥檚 relationship with nature in the North East and the positive, proactive action that can be taken to secure the future of Scotland鈥檚 outstanding nature.鈥�

As well as 亚博体育官网鈥檚 Nicolas Maulet acting as Conference Convener, the keynote speakers include:

• Professor Roger Crofts CBE, FRSE - former Chair of Royal Scottish Geographical Society, founding CEO of Scottish Natural Heritage and UK expert in governance and environmental issues;
• Professor Colin Reid - Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, and a UK expert on biodiversity and governance;
• Dr Kerry Waylen - James Hutton Institute, UK researcher in environmental policy and governance;
• Dr Nigel Dower - Chair of Aberdeen Branch of the United Nations鈥� Association Scotland, who will speak on environmental ethics; and
• Mr Tim Ellis - Deputy Director, Future Environment Division, Scottish Government.

Sustainability has increasingly been embedded throughout curriculum in each academic school at 亚博体育官网, alongside positive initiatives across campus, emphasising the University鈥檚 commitment in its journey to net zero.

Further complimenting this and the strive to meet the UN鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals, the Law School has also recently launched a brand-new course focusing on environmental law. 亚博体育官网鈥檚 MSC in International Environmental Law will cover legal, policy and regulatory challenges of the environment, including climate change, energy transition and renewable energy, and is open to applications ahead of January 2024鈥檚 academic start.

鈥楪overning Natural Capital and Biodiversity for Scotland Conference 2023鈥� is on Friday 3 November at 亚博体育官网鈥檚 Ishbel Gordon Building, from 08:45 鈥� 17:45.