Global materialism is a disaster for climate change, warns university don

Lanzhou Varsity VC Prof. Shi Kegian with MKU Pro Chancellor Dr. Vincent Gichuru Gaitho.

To achieve the tenets of global ecological actions, the world must rethink the desires for accumulation, conquest, domination, material and power supremacy.

These ecological actions in the world today revolve around the Paris Climate Agreement 2015; the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); National and Regional Green Initiatives and Technological Innovation and Sustainability.

All these measures aim at reversing the run-away degradation, pollution, and climate change which are attributable to civilizations’ advancements which supersede natural regeneration. “Such vices trigger unparalleled inequality and exclusions within nations,” says Dr Vincent Gaitho, chairman of Mount Kenya University (MKU) council who is also the university’s Pro-Chancellor.

Dr Gaitho was speaking in China during the Fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Learning Among Civilizations organized by the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU). The forum took place in Dunhuang City, and was hosted by the People’s Government of Gansu Province in Northwest China. 

Dancers at the conference

On the sidelines of the meeting, the MKU team explored the  path for mutual collaboration with Lanzhou University of China. The conference brought together politicians, heads of international organizations, scholars and ex perts to discuss the significance of exchanges and dialogues between different civilizations in a world facing many conflicts.  Held under the theme "Carrying forward the Silk Road Spirit to Gather Momentum for the Implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative", the dialogue included eight sessions to discuss related topics in different fields, such as the development of museums, law and technologies.

The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) as a diplomatic call by one of the global economic leaders fits well as a strategy that will break the barriers of inequality and exclusion so apparent in the contemporary world order. “Indeed, the GCI philosophy that ‘all countries in the word, regardless of their size’ are equal is a stark reminder of the importance of embracing exchanges and mutual learning because all civilizations have a role to play,” said Dr Gaitho.

Dr Gaitho’s presentation was on Global Civilization Initiative and Ecological Actions: the Dilemma. He focused on shared values of mankind. ‘The connectivity and linkages of the ancient Silk Road is today replicated and expanded through technology and innovations. Though that ancient declined with the fall of the Mongol Empire, the ‘Contemporary technology driven Silk Road’ may fall on its own weight of domination and competitiveness,” he cautioned.

The Pro-Chancellor said contemporary civilizations are faced with evolving threats in the space of cyber security, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a growing population with an ever-soaring demand for consumption. “As the world seeks to reverse negativities, civilizations are with avalanche of dilemmas of rapid industrialization vs environmental degradations and climate change, geopolitical power play, conflicts, poverty and resource exploitation, among other factors, highly negates the GCI targets of equality and inclusiveness,” he added. 

Dr Gaitho said to make the academic world impactful in the implementation of the SDGs, the UN established an all-purpose vehicle dubbed United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), as a strategy to bring to the fore the relevance of academia. UNAI is a platform created to engage universities as change agents on SDGs support. 

“Selected Universities were identified as drivers of hub of 17 SDGs with effect from 2018. MKU was identified on the basis of interventions that the university accomplished and reported since 2017 that were inclined towards reduced inequalities. Henceforth, MKU was selected and served as the UNAI SDG 10 hub on reduced inequalities from June, 2021 to end of 2024,” he said.  

However, effective January, 2025 UNAI changed the hubs design strategy from a single university player to a consortium of at least 4 universities which are competitively identified.  Consequently, UNAI has come up with 17 positions of Hub Chairs each corresponding with the 17 SDGs. 

Lanzhou university professors exchange gifts with Dr. Gaitho

This year, MKU was awarded the position of serving as UNAI SDG9 Hub Chair on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure for a three years period ending in 2027.  The university was selected based on its diverse range of projects that enhance innovation among its students and improves the quality of life among the surrounding communities. 

“The Global Civilization Initiate must be driven by conscious decisions that will address situations where we are faced with difficult choices between alternatives. At the top of decision making and actions should be the shared values of mankind. Decisions must exult peace and cooperation, respect for nature, equity and justice, and responsibility to the future generation,” he said.

At the opening ceremony held on Friday morning last week, Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng said that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are important drivers for the advancement of human civilization and the peaceful development of the world, according to Chinese news agency, Xinhua. 

Han urged nations to engage in sincere dialogue and pursue win-win cooperation, using conversation and communication to eliminate barriers and misunderstandings, enhance mutual understanding and friendly relations, promote harmonious coexistence among different civilizations, and foster closer ties among various countries.

Politicians attending the dialogue said that China has provided stability and certainty to the world through its own development when the world faces various conflicts. They also noted that the three major global initiatives proposed by China, such as the Global Civilization Initiative, help different cultures understand and learn from each other. These initiatives also create a strong base for a new international order where countries live together peacefully and work together for mutual benefit.

The dialogue was held in Dunhuang, a place where cultures and arts from different countries and regions came together thousands of years ago. It stands as a testament to China's long-standing openness and inclusiveness toward different civilizations.

Around 400 participants attended the event, including political leaders, experts, scholars, and heads of international and non-governmental organizations from multiple countries.