As a part of the POP Leadership Conversations, on May 11, 2021, POP Ocean Mentor Ana Hanhausen moderated a dialogue with Dr. Jian Liu, Director of the Science Division, UN Environment Programme about leadership for evidence-based policies in developing countries. When asked about leadership, Dr. Jian spoke about how each one of us needs to take up environmental leadership and push parties to reach agreements. Greta is a great example of this as her courage, confidence, and dedication to the planet demonstrates great leadership.

Komal Mittal, POP Mentor, asked Dr. Jian about the impact of policies in ecosystem management. To this, Dr. Jian spoke about the great need for effective communication between science and policy-making. UNEP is pushing to increase this interface, as we are facing three major environmental issues: climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss, and pollution.

Nahid Perez, from Mexico, asked about how nations can develop and sustainably manage their resources. Dr. Jian responded with an example of agriculture: if you produce things on cropland, you need to make sure that your cropland will be sustainable in the future.; sustainable agriculture looks not only at how much you produce but how long you produce. You must take into account the whole ecosystem rather than only a piece of land and when you make policy at national level you need to include these policies within the context of climate change.

Daniela Gómez, from México, asked Dr. Jian for advice for the impatient youth who are not being heard by policy makers. Dr. Jian stated that the youth have good reasons to be impatient but that they must communicate the key messages from science effectively, focusing not only on the issues but the solutions as well. We need decisive actions based on solid science and using the best options; we need to make sure we have co-benefits rather than trade offs, and communicate it.

Finally, Dr. Jian closed by encouraging the youth leaders to work based on science, link science and policy and include more people in taking action.

About the Guest

Dr. Jian Liu is currently the Director of the Science Division, UN Environment Programme (UNEP). From March 2017 to February 2021, he also served as UNEP Chief Scientist as an adjunct to his function as Director of Science Division.  Jian LIU has over 30 years of professional experience in science and policy, in the specific domains of ecosystems management, agriculture, environment and climate change at national, regional and global levels, in particular in developing countries. Jian holds a doctorate degree in Physical Geography from the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. He was the Director of UNEP’s International Ecosystem Management Partnership, the first global centre on ecosystem management in the global south, which he established, as the founding director. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Chief of UNEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Unit and the Deputy Secretary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). His earlier posts include Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Resources and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, and Manager of the Environment Program of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.

Watch the conversation