Dedicated, Inquisitive, Support
I have been an IUCN Commission Member for most of my career. WCEL early on, followed later by WCPA and CEM, where I am on the North America/Caribbean executive committee. I saw the value of CEC from a communications point of view; I have been interested in communications throughout my career.
It would be useful to have an overall review of the current IUCN communications strategy, with the aim to create a business plan and a clear sense of investment from our partners around the world. The results of such a review might call for the creation of a major global media hub, possibly in the United States, which has never enjoyed a dedicated communications officer in either its D.C. or New York office.
There is a need to work more closely with members that have a strong communications capacity. This might require creating new partnerships. The same is true for other organizations, both intergovernmental and in the private sector. It is essential that the conservation agenda be lodged in larger social, developmental, and environmental (e.g., climate change) contexts.
In conclusion, I would say that biodiversity remains a little known term. There is an extinction crisis that requires policy makers and citizens make a monumental communications leap. To do this, it will be important to capture the imagination as well as identify success stories. Incorporation of conservation issues in the new UN SDGs is an important step.
FCMC's core mission is to build technical capacity by developing tools and training that support USG contributions to the international goals mapped out in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). At the mission level, FCMC will contribute to REDD+ readiness by enabling countries to access "pay-for-performance" financing and identifying sustainable development options that represent "no-regrets" investments in climate change mitigation and adaption.
Scott has worked closely with scientists throughout his career in many different organizations. He has always appreciated — and continues to appreciate — the intersection of science, law, and policy and their communication linkages.
Scott Hajost is currently the Chief of Party for the Forest Carbon, Markets and Communities (FCMC) Program, a USAID funded project focused on REDD+ and LEDS. He is an expert in international conservation and environmental law and policy with over 30 years of experience. He is an international lawyer by training and was a treaty negotiator while at the U.S. State Department; in this role he was responsible for wildlife conservation, oceans, environment, and polar affairs. While at US EPA, he was a top manager for international affairs and a member of the Senior Executive Service. After leaving the U.S. government, he was International Counsel at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading U.S. NGO; in this role he directed its international portfolio and played a lead role in the Rio Earth Summit. Subsequently, for many years he was the Executive Director of IUCN US, where he managed UN affairs, developed IUCN’s global marine program, initiated IUCN's climate work, worked closely with the Species Program on wildlife conservation including trade, and was part of IUCN's central management team.
He was Senior Counsel to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) where his focus was on international biodiversity policy and the Convention on Biological Diversity and climate change. He is also Senior Counsel to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), and a board treasurer and member of the executive committee. He serves as senior adviser to the Global Islands Partnership (GLISPA). He also serves as adviser to NRDC on Rio+20.
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