“Just Don’t Waste!” — A Nexus Approach for a Sustainable Future | hybrid
Organised by The Royal Society of Edinburgh
Just Don’t Waste!
24 October 2025, 14:00-15:30 CET | online & in-person Edinburgh - UK
The world faces five interconnected crises — biodiversity loss, climate change, food and water insecurity, and public health challenges — all demanding integrated, transformative solutions. The “Just Don’t Waste!” event at the Royal Society of Edinburgh embraces a nexus approach, highlighting how Scotland can lead global efforts toward sustainability and equity.
The event takes inspiration from two groundbreaking IPBES assessments — the Transformative Change Assessment and the Nexus Assessment — both of which emphasize the urgent need to rethink how societies interact with nature. It aims to bridge the gap between science, policy, and practice by presenting real-world, actionable strategies for creating resilient systems that support people and the planet.
Calling on all of us — governments, researchers, businesses, and citizens — to transform waste into opportunity and rethink what sustainable living means.
Agenda
- Opening by Prof. Roger Crofts FRSE, RSE Environment Convenor
- Keynotes by Ruth Davis OBE (UK Nature Special Representative) and Gemma Harper OBE (CEO, JNCC) on the UK’s evolving role in biodiversity and nature policy.
- Panel Discussion chaired by Abi Gardner (2050 Climate Group), featuring:
- Prof. Pete Smith – IPBES Nexus Assessment
- Prof. Elise Cartmell FRSE – Zero Emissions Lead, Scottish Water
- Ruth Davis OBE – UK Government Representative
- Voices from youth and local communities leading climate action in Scotland.
- Closing reflections from Prof. Colin Galbraith FRSE, Chair of NatureScot.
This event is one of the first in Scotland to apply the nexus approach — connecting the dots between environmental, social, and economic systems to drive transformative change. It offers a rare opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and generations, envisioning a Scotland that not only reduces waste but also regenerates life.
Photo by Leandro Ramos on Unsplash: Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora), a native fruit from Brazil’s Atlantic Forest