Announcing the Global Engagement Forum: Live, Hosted by PYXERA Global, October 10 - 11
Advancing four solvable problems within the global Goals—skills gap: STEM, energy poverty, post-harvest loss, and marine debris
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ - PYXERA Global is proud to announce the third Global Engagement Forum: Live, to be held on October 10-11, 2018 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The invite-only forum focuses on four solvable problems within the Sustainable Development Goals. Leaders and experts from business, government, and nonprofit organizations will come together for two days of intensive collaboration.
Following the huge success of the 2017 Global Engagement Forum: Live, the 2018 Forum will continue to carry forward the work on food security through the lens of post-harvest loss and address the skills gap in STEM and the need for decent work for all. In addition, this year the Forum will expand its focus to include two new tracks on ending energy poverty and reducing marine debris and ocean plastics.
At the 2017 Forum:
- 88% of Forum participants walked away with new connections.
- 10 events adopted the Forum’s innovative design.
- 70% of participants found leads and opportunities to engage new partners and establish or strengthen relationships with like-minded partners.
Space for each Forum track is limited. Request an invitation early for one of the four tracks below.
“The Global Engagement Forum: Live is valuable to us because leaders from all sectors can talk and deliberate and generate solutions to address global challenges. This kind of active, focused conversation is an incredibly meaningful way to advance the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” - Sarah Middleton, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, PIMCO
This is not a typical conference. There will be a highly collaborative approach to bring forth solutions over the course of the two days. Participating collaborators will be asked to share their expertise, engage in dynamic dialogue with fellow experts and stakeholders, and address the global issues in tangible and meaningful ways. Each participant in the Forum has something to contribute—knowledge, experience, networks, or other resources to move toward solutions for one of the four challenges. Each participant will be asked to select one of the four solvable problems below.
Closing the Skills Gap in STEM
Why is today’s workforce ill-prepared for employment opportunities in STEM, as employers struggle to fill jobs in these areas? Employers around the world need analytical thinkers and problem solvers yet, struggle to find qualified candidates for entry level positions, much less advanced or mid-career positions. Employers have jobs with no one to do them.
Reducing Marine Debris and Ocean Plastics
Why has plastic pollution become one of the greatest threats to ocean and waterway health worldwide? Advancements from plastic usage have been vast, from expanding food access and reduced food waste, through to greater transportation security, lighter vehicles and improved access to shelter. But gains can come at considerable cost—plastic does not biodegrade so it’s here with us and becoming a bigger problem day by day.
Reducing Post-Harvest Loss: From Farm to Market
Why does one-third of all food produced never reach the market? Our planet produces enough food to feed the entire global population. Yet one-third of all food produced is never consumed and an estimated 815 million people go undernourished. Meanwhile, an astounding amount of fresh water used in agriculture—three times that of Lake Geneva—produces food that is never eaten. Most of this food loss happens before produce ever reaches a market. In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 75 percent of loss occurs during the production, handling, and sorting stages. Collectively, this results in economic costs of approximately USD $750 billion. As a rapidly growing global population places growing demands on our available resources, businesses and communities can no longer afford these types of inefficiencies in agricultural value chains.
Ending Energy Poverty
Providing access to safe, clean, and affordable energy would break the cycle of poverty and fulfill proposed long-term value approaches to economic development. The International Energy Agency’s 2040 projections show that 500 million global citizens will still lack access to electricity, and 1.8 billion will still use unclean fuels to cook and heat. Why, with the rise of new technology and renewable energy solutions, is a third of the world still deprived of reliable power?
For media inquiries contact:
Morgan Singer
PYXERA Global
msinger@pyxeraglobal.org
202.830.0501
About PYXERA Global
For nearly 30 years, PYXERA Global has facilitated mutually beneficial partnerships between the public, private, and social sectors worldwide to create social impact projects that enrich lives and livelihoods, inclusively and sustainably.
