Innovative research in climate change for sustainable development amidst COVID-19 may include, but is not limited to, studies dealing with climate change and its interactions with human and environmental systems, quantifying specific levels and effects of global warming, adaptation potential, and mechanisms for climate change mitigation. COVID-19 poses challenges to the local, regional and international work for climate change, however, the pandemic has also taught important lessons, for example, how small reduction in sources of CO2 can change net atmospheric values and what it can imply in terms of temperature at global levels.

Good governance promotes accountability, transparency, efficiency, the rule of law, openness, and participation, all of which are critical tools for advancing sustainable development. Abstracts for this subtheme will focus on issues such as public participation in decision-making, strengthening good governance at the local level, democracy, good governance and the rule of law, and mechanisms of good governance.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on societies throughout the world: from the loss of human lives to major disruptions to public health and food systems, coupled with significant loss of livelihoods, while millions are at risk. Additionally, COVID-19 has highlighted many social factors that create vulnerability, including social inequality and inequities, disproportionate burden of the poor, gender issues, absence of adequate social protection measures; lack of adequate social infrastructure, among others. Importantly, lessons from COVID-19 should allow us to ‘build back’ better, adopting a risk based, rather than a reactive approach. This subtheme covers topics such as rural-urban inequities, transforming built environments, climate change and human health, water and sanitation, improving health systems and services, violence prevention, mental health, and policy responses.

Access to and provision of energy services have a profound effect on productivity, health, education, food and water security, and communication services. These are considered critical to the reduction of inequality and poverty. Abstracts under this subtheme will focus on issues such as sustainable energy, energy poverty, clean, efficient, resilient and low-carbon technologies and sustainable development, grid infrastructure and supply efficiency and the role of energy in response to COVID-19.

Science with appropriate technology transfer is necessary for the sustainable development of any country. Research must not only focus on pure sciences, but also applied sciences relevant to the degradation effects of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems, land restoration and landscape development of any country. Guyana is blessed with many natural resources that can be converted to value added products via science and technology. Adding value with the lowest environmental impact is always associated with sustainable development. Abstracts under this subtheme will focus on issues such as environmental impacts, restoration, remediation, using natural and synthetic adsorbents, and the synthesis of diverse value-added products.

Plants are useful in medicine, but are also useful in agriculture - in its widest context that includes animal husbandry and aquaculture. Guyana’s abundant diverse flora can be utilized for food as well as for the extraction of novel natural products, whose antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant and anticancer activities can be evaluated and compared with their synthetic analogues. Abstracts under this subtheme will focus on the use of plants as herbal alternative or complementary medicines, plant extracts as biological control, natural pesticides, insecticides etc.

Economic crises, social disparities, market failures, environmental risks, and ecological scarcities have all been manifestations of concerns around traditional economic models and their applicability in the new economic landscape. The concept of a green/circular economy has emerged as an appropriate alternative model which balances human well-being with economic interest, social equity, survival of the human race and the earth. This concept of the circular economy has gained increasing recognition and support globally as an innovative approach to sustainability. Additionally, COVID-19 has brought to the fore several issues relating to sustainable development, for example, the need to reduce contagious risk in sectors like Tourism and Hospitality. Abstracts for this subtheme will focus on issues such as transitioning to a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive societies, enabling conditions for a green economy, greening agriculture, Corporate Social Responsibility, Innovative business models, behavioural shifts in consumers, effects of a circular economy transition on international trade, circular economy and opportunities for developing countries and green engineering.

Marine and freshwater ecosystems play a critical ecological role and provide economically important products and services to humankind. Over the last few decades there have been increasing threats to these ecosystems, as a result of pollution, unsustainable water extraction, infrastructural development, farming and industrial activities, invasive species, overharvesting of species, and climate change. Abstracts for this subtheme will focus on underlying causes of degrading status of marine and freshwater ecosystems, health and their underlying causes, and sustainable management and conservation of the biological resources and their habitats. The latter includes spatial planning, legislation, strategies and policies, river basin management, among others.

Culture is recognized as both an enabler and a driver of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, as it allows for the self-determination of local communities and guards the rights of marginalized groups both of which are critical to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals as set out by the United Nations. Abstracts for this subtheme will focus on issues such as democracy and participation, people empowerment, art and sustainability, and traditional knowledge and sustainability.

All countries, under the United Nations Convention, pledged to eradicate poverty, and to provide equal access to economic resources and basic services by 2030. In order to achieve this, there is the need for robust national policy frameworks to be created that are geared towards eliminating poverty and ensuring gender sensitivity. Not only should policies be developed but they should also be implemented in a manner that allows for development, training, and income security. Moreover, the eradication of poverty is inextricably linked to the successful ending of gender-based discrimination. Abstracts under this subtheme will focus on issues such as sustainable development and gender equality, gender-based violence, role of women in food and water security, women and sustainable livelihoods, women and new business formation, and women and economic empowerment.

Education for sustainable development in the 21st century requires a paradigm shift. The chaos of balancing the need for education against dealing with a pandemic has helped us to realize that education can no longer be business as usual. There is a need to align the skills and competencies taught at schools with what is needed to function and work effectively in society. This subtheme focuses on how societies can be transformed by reorienting education to help people develop knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed for sustainable development. Issues for consideration include advancing policy, transforming learning environments, building capacities of educators, empowering and mobilizing youth, and accelerating local level actions. Abstracts under this subtheme will focus on transformative education, special education needs, virtual learning, content and learning outcomes, action-oriented pedagogy/andragogy/cybergogy/heutagogy, the learning environment, autonomous learning, participation and collaboration, problem-solving, inter and transdisciplinary, and formal and informal learning.