- 04 Nov 2024
A discussion dedicated to the protection of the environment and the Sustainable Development Goal on Ecosystem Conservation was held at Baku Eurasian University (BAAU), organized by the Department of Azerbaijani and World Literature. The event took place as part of the initiatives marking the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World” in align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 15: Life on Land.
The discussion brought together members of the academic and administrative staff of BAAU, along with students from the Faculty of Philology to explore the critical need for conservation of biodiversity, protection of natural habitats, and promotion of ecological resilience.
Natella Guliyeva, Head of the Department for the Organization of Teaching at BAAU, emphasized the collective responsibility of all individuals in protecting the environment. She stressed the importance of environmental education in building public awareness and preventing further habitat loss, pollution, and ecosystem degradation, particularly in the context of unsustainable land use and the accelerating threats of species extinction.
In her opening remarks, Professor Elmira Mammadova-Kekech, Doctor of Philology and Head of the Department of Azerbaijani and World Literature, provided insights into ecological themes in world literature. She introduced students to the intellectual legacy of Arne Næss, founder of the Deep Ecology movement, and discussed the contributions of key thinkers who helped define strict environmental ethics and the philosophical underpinnings of ecosystem protection.
Following this, Senior Lecturer Afsana Naghiyeva delivered an in-depth overview of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, linking its long-term ecological impacts to the broader themes of ecosystem vulnerability, radioactive contamination, and species endangerment. She also introduced students to the work of Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich, focusing on her book “Voices from Chernobyl”, which documents not only human suffering but also the devastating toll on wildlife and soil health.
The event concluded with a discussion of the book "Go! Eco-Dictatorship: First the Earth, Then Humans" by German author Dirk C. Fleck. The discussion explored the interconnectedness of climate change, deforestation, and the deterioration of natural ecosystems, while emphasizing the role of land ecological restoration, reforestation, and carbon sequestration in addressing these urgent challenges.
