Sustainable Lifestyles Coordinator

Details

Mission and objectives

UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. For five decades, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been a leading advocate for the environment, a steadfast partner and a trusted adviser with a mission to inform, enable and inspire nations and peoples to improve their quality of life – without compromising that of future generations. UNEP monitors the state and health of the planet, ensures that science remains at the centre of decision-making processes, and that environmental rule of law continues to underpin global environmental governance. Together with its partners, UNEP has made significant progress, yet there is no denying that today, environmental challenges have reached unprecedented levels. Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production have led to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. The science is clear: human health, prosperity, equity and peace are all under threat. We must urgently transform our economies and societies – and our relationship with nature. UNEP is here to lead this transformation with its 193 Member States, and in partnership with other UN agencies and stakeholders. With its experience, expertise, dynamic programmes and forward-thinking strategy, and with its dedicated staff, UNEP is uniquely positioned to be your partner in addressing and reversing the triple planetary crisis. As UNEP relies on voluntary contributions for 95 per cent of the funding, the work is made possible by partners who fund and champion its mission.

Context

Promoting sustainable lifestyles has been at the core of the 10YFP and its One Planet Network for over a decade and remains a priority area under the new Global Strategy for SCP (2023-2030) adopted by the 10YFP Board and acknowledged by the UN General Assembly late 2022, as well as of the 10YFP/OPN Secretariat’s results framework (2023-2024) elaborated in response to the Strategy. Building on the conclusions of the IPPC WG3 report (released early April 2022), which stressed the need to steer the demand for sustainability through infrastructure, technology as well as socio-cultural and behavioral change, highlighting the potential to reduce GHG emissions in the end-use sector by 40 to 70% by 2050, the Secretariat will work with and strengthen the One Planet Network programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education to increase knowledge on the centrality of behavior change and different pathways for sustainable living as key element of the economic transformation and triple planetary crisis. The objective will be to provide evidence-based solutions, tools and policy recommendations to provide the enabling conditions (e.g. infrastructure, policies, market pricing, choice editing, etc.) for societies and individuals to embrace sustainable living within 1.5 degrees, as well as to build and advocacy coalition mobilizing 50 governments and organizations by 2024, including stakeholder groups, to advocate for 1.5° sustainable lifestyles and social inclusion measures while facilitating the uptake of this fundamental agenda by major international for a, such as the G20, G7 and others. Those efforts will aim at tackling social norms that support gender inequalities and promote positive role models, while addressing harmful stereotypes and seeking to depict positive and progressive gender portrayals both at work and at home. As a result, countries will design promote and implement policies, infrastructures and incentives for both women and men to adopt sustainable lifestyles solutions. This will be done in support of the behavior change movement LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), a global movement that aims to promote high-level principles for sustainable lifestyles and create the enabling conditions for individuals and communities to adopt new ways of living in harmony with nature, launched by the Prime Minister of India and the United Nations Secretary-General at Kevadia (Gujarat) in India on 20th October 2022. LiFE is also priority thematic issue deliberated in the Development Working Group of the G20, led by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI), during the current Indian presidency of the G20 to which UNEP, along with the One Planet Network, has been providing technical knowledge and support. In this context, the Sustainable Lifestyles Coordinator will: ensuring the coordination and strengthening of the One Planet Network Sustainable Lifestyles and Education programme as a key mechanism to promote 1.5° lifestyles principles, policies and solutions through LiFE at a global level and as the natural home for a dedicated multi-stakeholder coalition for implementation; further assist the 10YFP/One Planet Network Secretariat and UNEP, in close coordination with UNEP India Country Office, in delivering support to the Government of India to promote and further the LiFE global movement, including in the context of the G20 Presidency’s.

Task description

In this perspective, the Sustainable Lifestyles Coordinator will support engagement of existing and potential stakeholders across the One Planet Network and other initiatives/communities implementing the 10YFP, SDG12 and the 2030 Agenda. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Head of the 10YFP Secretariat or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV [Sustainable Lifestyle Consultant] will: 1. Support the coordination and strengthening of the One Planet Network Sustainable Lifestyles and Education programme and its 1.5° lifestyles flagship initiative as a key mechanism to support sustainable lifestyles policies and solutions, including through the LiFE initiative, building on the leadership of G20 countries • Participate in and support the leadership and Coordination Desk of the Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme of the OPN in order to assist in the effective oversight and coordination of the programme and flagship initiative on sustainable lifestyles (convene and organize meetings, ensure partners of the programme are consulted, informed and engaged, facilitate and support cooperation / knowledge exchange with the other communities and stakeholders across the OPN and in the regions). • Provide guidance and support to the Sustainable Lifestyles and Education programme for the development of a result-oriented implementation plan (2023-2024) aligned with the Global Strategy for SCP, fully integrating strategies to amplify the LiFE movement within and beyond G20 countries. • Work with partners and stakeholders, providing technical and administrative support to the development, implementation, including the flagship initiative on 1.5° sustainable lifestyles, and monitoring of key products and activities of the programme. • Support strategic stakeholder engagement, focused on influential players and market leaders (private sector companies, financial institutions and national governments), including though high-level advocacy efforts to enhance visibility and secure commitments for action that can be monitored and measured under the 1.5° lifestyles flagship initiative; • Provide guidance and technical support to the partners of the One Planet Network Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme for monitoring and reporting on progress and impacts, including through the 1.5° lifestyles flagship initiative. 2. Support to the G20 Presidency’s LiFE initiative at global level • Provide technical assistance to the Indian government and other stakeholders as required in developing technical/briefing/background notes, and other related documents on Sustainable Lifestyles in the context of the LiFE initiative (based on latest science and evidence), for discussions in the G20 Development Working Group meetings and high-level side events, to be held during India’s Presidency of the G20. • Support to the coordination, compilation and review of technical papers on LiFE, submitted by experts and knowledge partners, as well as to G20 side events on sustainable lifestyles and the LiFE initiative, in consultation with relevant experts and knowledge partners across the One Planet Network, UNEP and the Indian government. • Development of database of experts and best practices on sustainable Lifestyles to be hosted on the OPN platform from the G20 countries and identify potential for regular south-south exchange for sharing learnings and experiences and follow up on recommendations from the decisions taken in the G20 DWG meetings on LiFE, under India’s presidency. • Mapping and documentation of opportunities to mainstream LiFE high level principles in relevant sectors/ thematic areas, as well as of relevant efforts of other national line ministries/ departments on LiFE and identify convergence of relevant sectoral actions, programmes/policies/ schemes having potential to contribute to LiFE objectives. • Developing technical briefing notes for Inter-ministerial/interdepartmental communications, research papers/ Op-ed / articles on LiFE and facilitate in wider outreach and communications on LiFE through national and global platforms like the One Planet Network and others. 3. Support communication and advocacy activities on sustainable lifestyles: • Support the coordination of the implementation of pilar 4 of the Global Strategy for SCP (Foster a global movement for SCP), ensure the key stakeholders of the One Planet Network are engaged in the area of sustainable lifestyles and active in the One Planet Network Global Platform. Ensure that additional stakeholders, targeted from key sectors, industries and outside of the current partners, especially from among the youth and the private sector discover and engage in OPN’s initiatives on sustainable lifestyles and the relevant sections of the Global Platform. • Provide outreach and engagement with stakeholders for key selected events, including the Global Dialogue on SCP and, the One Planet Network Forum as well aimed at increasing India-based stakeholder and target audiences. • Relevant and on time information is provided to the Communications and Advocacy lead for the coordination of outreach and communications activities on LiFE. 4. Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor(s). Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. Results/expected outputs: As an active [One Planet Network] team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the United Nations Environment Programme in its capacity as Secretariat of the 10YFP/One Planet Network and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including contributing to the following targets and expected outputs: • The One Planet Sustainable Lifestyles and Education programmes’ leadership is renewed and strengthened, with existing and new core partners engaged, priorities are established and monitored, in line with the Global Strategy for SCP, through dialogue, exchange and effective coordination. • A flagship initiative on 1.5° sustainable lifestyles is launched and engages Member States as well as other relevant stakeholders across the One Planet Network and beyond in the promotion of sustainable lifestyles and social inclusion measures, in line with and/or in support of the LiFE initiative (G20 Presidency) and its implementation at global level/ • The Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme’s offering is better articulated, with an increasingly robust package of solutions for the prioritized high-impact sectors and/or to support commitments for climate, biodiversity, pollution and waste. • Consistent engagement with the leadership of the programmes, included through the head of the Secretariat, linkages between the 10YFP Secretariat, other initiatives, programme lead organizations and other partners of the programme are strengthened, including through an enhanced engagement of the private sector. • Technical assistance is provided to UNEP India Country Office and India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and UNEP India Country Office on LiFE, including in the context of the G20, activities of its Development Working Group and other relevant high-level events, in the form of technical notes/ briefing notes/ background notes and other related documents on LiFE (based on latest science and evidence). • Opportunities to mainstream LiFE high level principles in relevant sectors/ thematic areas are mapped and documented, relevant efforts of other line Ministries/ departments on LiFE mapped, documented and convergence potential across relevant sectoral actions and programmes/policies/ schemes identified. • A database of experts and best practices on sustainable lifestyles from the G20 countries is developed, and opportunities for regular south-south exchange among G20 countries for sharing learnings and experiences are identified, including as follow up to the recommendations from the decisions taken in the G20 on LiFE, under India’s Presidency. • Coordination support is provided to G20 side events on LiFE in consultation with relevant experts and knowledge partners across the One Planet Network and beyond, the MEA and UNEP; technical/research papers, articles and/or Op-eds relevant to LiFE are coordinated, compiled, reviewed and disseminated through wider outreach and communications, through national and global platforms including the One Planet Network. • Key outputs and milestones of LiFE are mapped out against the Live LiFE Better campaign milestones to establish further opportunities for greater impact on national and international levels.