NEWS

Lehigh students were challenged to think globally about the environment and the climate crisis, as the LU/UN Partnership welcomed United Nations Environment Program Director Jamil Ahmad as the keynote speaker to kick off the 2025-2026 school year.

Ahmad, who spoke before a packed auditorium of students, faculty, and staff, implored the attendees to strive for sustainable consumption and production. The speaker session, co-sponsored by the Environmental Studies and Environmental Science departments and the Dhruv Seshadri lab, focused on steps we can all take to be more sustainable in our everyday lives, as global consumption outpaces the rate at which resources like nonrenewable energy and water can be replenished.

Through this conversation, Ahmad introduced the “3 Interconnected Crises,” also known as the “Triple Planetary Crisis.” These are three interlinked environmental issues facing the world that have and will continue to cause real damage on a global level if they are not addressed in a timely manner. They are: pollution and waste, climate change, biodiversity, and nature loss.

Additionally, Ahmad, who previously worked in the Foreign Service of Pakistan, stationed in locations throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe, also suggested watching for the outcomes of the upcoming United Nations Environmental Assembly meeting happening this December (UNEA-7). This group, which he described as a “world parliament for the environment”, meets biannually to discuss rising global issues involving the environment, while monitoring ongoing ones, and brainstorming potential solutions.

Isaiah Sohn ‘26, a Political Science major who attended the presentation, was enthusiastic about the presentation. “It was an incredible opportunity to listen and engage with Director Jamil Ahmad on issues such as sustainable consumption and climate change. The Lehigh University/United Nations Partnership truly empowers students by enabling them to address pressing global challenges,” he said.

Ahmad began his day at Alumni Memorial, where he was greeted by Lehigh President Joseph Helble and a team of staff and interns from the Partnership. The interns then took Ahmad on a walking tour of campus, making stops at Linderman Library and Alumni Memorial Walkway, ultimately making their way to Coxe Hall to meet with a small group of students.

These students, selected from various environmental and sustainability-focused clubs on campus, had the opportunity to converse with Ahmad in a round-table format. This discourse revolved around the future of multilateralism, international environmental law, and the green economy.

Following this meeting, Earth & Environmental Science and Environmental Studies faculty, as well as graduate students, held an informal conversation with Ahmad. The discussion revolved around issues such as green policy support and the future of sustainable development.

Ahmad’s visit coincided with the announcement that Lehigh was granted Economic and Social Council status at the UN, placing Lehigh at the top tier of NGOs in the world.

In summarizing his campus visit, Ahmad said, “We [UNEP] are proud that Lehigh is one of the universities with which we have been working for many years because Lehigh is a trailblazer. In the sense of engaging with the UN, but also showcasing the organization to its students, the larger community of academia, and to the member states in New York. They are doing a job which is praiseworthy by all accounts.”