A Global Perspective: YESI Hosts Joint Symposium on Sustainable Futures

Posted on Friday 13 March 2026

On Monday 9 March, the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) hosted the Joint Symposium on Sustainable Futures, an online event bringing together international experts to explore the environmental and social systems and approaches that will define the next decade of sustainability science.

Breaking Down Silos for a Resilient World

Chaired by Professor Lindsay Stringer, MBE, Director of YESI, the symposium facilitated cross-border dialogue aimed at building a more resilient world. 

"Events like this are absolutely vital for the future of sustainability science. If we are to tackle the interconnected environmental and human crises, we cannot work in silos or within closed borders. By bringing together diverse voices and deep, contextual expertise from across the globe, we can challenge our assumptions and co-develop the truly resilient, equitable solutions our world urgently needs." Professor Lindsay Stringer

Insights from Environmental and Atmospheric Research

The symposium featured five research presentations spanning a range of global challenges. Representing the University of York's Department of Environment and Geography, Professor Rob Marchant explored the evolution of East African mountain 'water towers.' By integrating long-term ecological data with vegetation modelling, Professor Marchant illustrated how historical environmental shifts can help predict current vulnerabilities, protecting both high-altitude biodiversity and the livelihoods of dependent communities.

Following this, Dr Nausheen Mazhar from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU, Pakistan) discussed atmospheric systems. She highlighted that understanding how the atmosphere responds to human activity is essential for managing pollution and safeguarding public health, examining atmospheric behaviour through air quality analysis, aridity assessment, and greenhouse gas monitoring.

Bridging the Gap: Food Systems and Living Labs

The conversation also addressed the human elements of sustainability. Dr Margaret Aba Sam Hagan of Kumasi Technical University (Ghana) detailed the structural transformations required to create resilient global food systems. Through her 'living lab' approach, she explored practical strategies to bridge the gap between academic theory and agricultural practice to improve nutrition security.

Land Management and Technological Innovation

Addressing the complexities of terrestrial ecosystems, Professor Aliyu Barau of Bayero University Kano (Nigeria) challenged current reforestation paradigms in African drylands. He noted how prioritising fast-growing exotic tree species can deplete native biodiversity, particularly in grasslands, fuelling resource conflicts, advocating instead for broad-based solutions that take into account species ecological and environmental needs. Complementing this focus on land management, Dr Wisdom M.D. Dlamini from the University of Eswatini demonstrated the use of GeoAI and Earth-observation tools in bridging evidence gaps for the National Land Policy. His work in Eswatini identifies hotspots of biodiversity and land use change, informing the national land use policy to balance nature, food production and urban needs.

Collaborative Success and Future Outlook

YESI would like to thank our speakers, their respective institutions, and our engaged and diverse audience. The quality of the discussion was excellent, and the thoughtful questions posed throughout the event enriched the collaborative spirit of the day, prompting valuable networking and connections.

Priority research questions

The priority research questions co-developed during the symposium for each of these systems and three cross-cutting priority research questions, aimed at defining the next decade of sustainability science, are below:

Air Pollution

• How do varying urbanisation  land-use patterns influence the distribution and dispersion of PM2.5 and other air pollutants, and what are the specific implications for urban planning and mitigation strategies?
• What is the feasibility and global impact of establishing internationally agreed legislation for higher carbon taxes on heavy emitters to benefit low emitters?
• What are the specific control measures for soil erosion as they relate to air pollution and sand and dust storms, and how can green infrastructure be effectively used to improve air quality?

Food Systems

• How can food systems be redesigned to provide healthy, affordable food, addressing the dual problems of undernourishment and obesity, while simultaneously protecting the environment, supporting farmers, and remaining resilient to global shocks?
• What are the long-term impacts of environmental changes and the implementation of food standards on food safety, particularly regarding food waste and chemical residues (e.g., antibiotics)?
• How can biodiversity, specifically pollinators, be protected from extinction within the context of intensifying food production?

Drylands Systems

• What is social and ecological "value for money" for expensive afforestation projects, and how do these projects compare to reforestation in terms of past forest extent and local livelihood preservation?
• How has climate change specifically affected farmer productivity in drylands, and what role does the lack of pasture play as a primary driver of farmer-herder crises?
• What are the climate impacts of transitionary solutions, such as factory-based animal feeds, compared to traditional rangeland grazing?

Land Systems

• How can land-systems research better integrate climate resilience, biodiversity integrity, and livelihood security within rapidly changing landscapes?
• What specific forms of GIS and spatial data science are most effective for decision-making in regions facing data scarcity and institutional constraints and how can AI help?
• How can land-system science originating in the Global South and Africa more effectively shape global theory, methods, and policy agendas?

Mountain Systems

• What are the interactions between climate change and land-use change in mountainous areas, and how do these changes impact downstream wetlands and communities?
• How can we better define the boundaries and functional space-time scales of mountain social-ecological systems (i.e.where does a mountain stop)?
• How can land-use transitions in mountain regions be accurately translated into Natural Capital assessments, biodiversity impacts, and economic evaluations over wider scales?

Cross-Cutting Priority Research Questions

• Inclusive Governance: What are the most effective enabling conditions and participatory processes for engaging marginalised groups—including women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities—to ensure their voices shape long-term sustainable outcomes?
• Knowledge Integration: To what level can Indigenous and local knowledge be integrated with data-driven science to solve climate-related issues?
• Policy & Application: What are the most effective stages and mechanisms for implementing "polluter-pays" policies and transitioning science into active, integrated land-use planning and application?