As COP31 opens in Turkey, issues related to territorial adaptation, soil preservation, and the evolution of our practices are taking on particular resonance. Scientific research plays a key role in guiding public decisions and contributing to necessary transformations.
Philippe Guégan, Director of the Institute for Environmental Transition (ITE) at Sorbonne Université Alliance, emphasizes the Institute's ambitions, situated at the crossroads of scientific disciplines and societal expectations. The ITE co-organized the National Meetings on Land Sobriety, an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academia and public decision-makers and field actors.
The central question of land sobriety, 'how to preserve and restore living soils,' requires a multidisciplinary approach involving diverse skills, from ecology to chemistry, including social sciences. The Sorbonne Université Alliance, by bringing together various specialists, offers specific insights and a deep understanding of complex problems, thus assisting decision-makers.
The scientific method, based on peer review and critical questioning, ensures the advancement of knowledge. The university also aims to make this knowledge accessible to society, using academic expertise to inform political choices, particularly in environmental transition.
Several themes from COP31 resonate with the ITE's work, including waste management, the resilience of cities to climate change, sustainable agriculture, and ocean-related issues. The Institute is also preparing a day dedicated to waste management and collaborates with the Sorbonne Cluster Artificial Intelligence on the environmental impact of AI.
Philippe Guégan stresses the need for reciprocal dialogue between scientists and decision-makers. While researchers strive to make their work accessible, clearer communication of decision-makers' needs would enable more effective collaboration. The strong interest shown at the Land Sobriety Meetings indicates a curiosity for science and a desire to engage in this dialogue.
Producing in-depth scientific knowledge is a political act in itself, but the ITE is committed to maintaining its scientific independence, thus avoiding militant lobbying. The university must be able to evolve its analyses based on new research, while contributing to public debate by making its knowledge available. The goal is to depoliticize debates and foster a more accurate understanding of phenomena.
To prepare future decision-makers, Sorbonne Université offers courses on environmental transition starting from the first year of license. A new multidisciplinary doctoral program is being developed, combining ecology, economics, social sciences, health, philosophy, and communication, to train doctors capable of grasping the complexity of environmental challenges.
