Concept note and main Themes

Tunisian Forum for Education > Concept note and main Themes

Call for papers

Concept Note

Climate change is one of the major challenges of the 21st century, impacting ecosystems, water resources, and global food security, threatening the resilience of societies. In this context, we must review our interaction with the environment and explore innovative scientific solutions to ensure a sustainable future. It is now widely accepted that human activities, including the overexploitation of natural resources (poaching, deforestation, overfishing, urbanization, etc.), have significantly degraded ecosystems and disrupted natural balances. Furthermore, the intensification of industrial activities has exacerbated global warming, leading to an increase in the average global temperature of +1.6°C in 2024 compared to the pre-industrial era (ERA5, 2025). The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident worldwide and have undeniably led to a critical loss of biodiversity.

Simultaneously, extreme weather events like intense droughts (devastating fires in Canada and California) and catastrophic floods (in Valencia, Spain) are more frequent. In Tunisia, recurrent droughts in 2020–2023 severely impacted crop yield, threatening food security and economy. Additionally, these changes are disrupting ocean circulation, leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of cyclones (Cyclone Chido in Mayotte in the Indian Ocean).

Altogether, these disruptions lead to more energy consumption, depletion of water resources, soil and aquifer salinization, and often uncontrolled irrigation. Conversely, heavy rainfall causes damage to infrastructure, ecosystems, and crops. The dramatic consequences of climate change have highlighted the political, economic, and social problems that our countries must confront.

Sustainable management of energy and resources is essential to ensure food security, provide essential ecosystem services, and guarantee collective health and well-being. To this end, good governance is indispensable and requires the development of coordinated solutions based on scientific innovation, international cooperation (UNEP, 2022; FAO, 2023), and sustainability.

The conference “Climate Change, Environmental Challenges, and Energy Transition”, part of the 5th edition of the International Citizen Forum on Education and Interdisciplinary Research, aligns with this innovative vision by addressing urgent ecological crises through concrete and sustainable solutions.

Through three thematic axes — (i) water resource management, (ii) ecosystem resilience and food security, and (iii) sustainable and eco-responsible energy transition — this conference aims to foster open and constructive scientific dialogue to develop appropriate and mobilizing responses. This call for papers is an opportunity for researchers, experts, and practitioners to share their work, experiences, and recommendations in an interdisciplinary framework.

Main themes

Axis 1: Integrated Approaches to Water Resource Management and Climate Change Mitigation
Description
Climate disruptions are exacerbating pressures on freshwater resources, profoundly disturbing hydrological cycles and jeopardizing water security globally. The increasing frequency and intensity of droughts, imbalances in regional precipitation, and rising sea levels pose major threats to ecosystems, agriculture, and urban populations. Traditional approaches to water management—fragmented and often confined to sectoral logic—are no longer sufficient to provide sustainable solutions to water crises. There is a need for an integrated and adaptive management model to ensure the equitable and sustainable use of water resources. Integrated water resource management relies on a systemic vision that considers the interconnections between water uses (agriculture, industry, domestic consumption), environmental dynamics (aquifer recharge, water quality, biodiversity), and climate constraints. This axis focuses on innovative solutions to optimize the quantitative and qualitative management of water resources by integrating environmental, socio-economic, and technological dimensions. It aims to address, among other questions: What are the strategies for optimal water management in the face of climate disruptions? How can we combine resource preservation with meeting human needs? How can we ensure optimal and eco-responsible water recycling? What governance models ensure equitable water management? What technological innovations can ensure water quality?

Main Research Themes


1. Sustainable Management and Control of Hydric Systems: Regeneration and Resilience

  • Restoration of wetlands, aquifers, and watersheds
  • Coastal management and marine coast preservation
  • Traditional solutions for rainwater harvesting and recovery
  • Preservation of water quality (pollution, salinization, bacteriological contamination)
  • Hydrological modeling and prospective scenarios in the face of climatic uncertainties
  • Rational exploitation of surface and groundwater resources
  • Best practices for better water resource economy
  • Irrational practices and their impacts on the sustainability and quality of resources


2. Technological Innovations and Optimization of Water Resource Management

  • Smart water management systems (remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence)
  • Advanced techniques for wastewater treatment and reuse
  • Use of thermal waters
  • Artificial recharge of aquifers
  • Artificial drainage for soil and ecosystem preservation
  • Innovative and sustainable technologies to ensure water quality (microplastic removal, quaternary wastewater treatment, etc.)
  • Smart irrigation
  • Desalination and diversification of water resources

Axis 2: Ecosystem Resilience and Food Security in a Context of Growing Environmental Pressures
Description
In the context of climate disruptions and extreme weather events, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity threaten natural balances and the sustainability of all ecosystems, reducing food production capacities and endangering food security and health. Additionally, the growth of the global population and the decrease in arable land require an increase in agricultural production, which is highly dependent on improving crop productivity. However, global water withdrawal continues to rise, with agriculture responsible for more than 70% of this consumption. Irrigation with poor-quality water, combined with increased evapotranspiration during drought periods, leads to soil degradation and salinization, affecting the associated ecosystems. Even in the most favorable environments, severe climatic changes (intense droughts, floods, cyclones) can significantly reduce yields. Furthermore, climate change disrupts ocean circulation, intensifies exceptional currents, and alters the physico-chemical parameters of water, directly threatening the most fragile aquatic ecosystems. In this context, this axis will address, among other questions: What mechanisms do living organisms develop to adapt to these new conditions? How can the strategies adopted by extremophiles be harnessed? To what extent can agro-ecological practices ensure food security? How can artificial intelligence contribute to monitoring vulnerable crops and rationalizing the use of natural resources? How can genetic diversity be used to improve crop resilience? How can we successfully transition to zero-carbon agriculture? How can plant resources be sustainably used for the production of bioactive molecules?

Main Research Themes


1. Mechanisms of Ecosystem Adaptation to Environmental Changes (Terrestrial, Marine, Riverine, Coastal)

  • Adaptation strategies of ecosystems (marine and coastal, freshwater, forest, agricultural)
  • Understanding adaptation mechanisms of extremophile organisms for better ecosystem resilience
  • Modeling ecosystem resilience: adaptation and use of genetic biodiversity


2. Agroecology and Sustainable Agricultural Practices to Strengthen Food Security

  • Regenerative agriculture to restore soil fertility and improve yields
  • Agroforestry, intercropping, and diversification of agricultural systems
  • Sustainable soil management
  • Agro-ecological solutions for carbon sequestration


3. Sustainable Management for the Resilience of Natural and Agricultural Ecosystems

  • Restoration of degraded ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Importance of wetlands, forests, and grasslands in regulating the water cycle
  • Rehabilitation of desert areas
  • Sustainable management of agricultural landscapes


4. Technologies and Innovations for Sustainable Food Production

  • Plant bioeconomy, genetic innovations, and biotechnologies to optimize the production of bioactive molecules and food (genetic diversity, varietal improvement, bio-inoculants)
  • Biological control and biopesticides
  • Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence for sustainable agriculture
  • Integrated water management in agricultural systems: efficient irrigation techniques, wastewater reuse
  • Cultivation under extreme conditions: saline agriculture and use of halophyte organisms
  • Development of alternative food sources
  • Sustainable production of plant-derived molecules

Axis 3: Sustainable and Eco-Responsible Energy Transition in the Face of Climate Challenges
Description
As climate change poses severe threats to ecosystems and societies, a sustainable and eco-friendly energy transition emerges as an essential response to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the devastating impacts of environmental disruptions, and adapt infrastructures to future challenges. However, this transition is not restricted to fossil fuel alternatives; it also requires a systemic transformation of production, consumption, and energy governance models, considering specific regional economic, technological, and environmental contexts. The energy sector generates 73% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving a successful energy transition involves combining renewable energies, efficient storage, smart grid management, energy conservation, and the preservation of natural and biological resources. This transition requires redefining energy models by promoting decarbonized technologies and energy efficiency. Despite the foreseen technical, economic, and social challenges, eco-friendly energies (solar, wind, biomass) and adapted public policies are crucial for reducing emissions and decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. Different national contexts reveal diverse energy transition trajectories. Tunisia, with its exceptional solar potential (1,800 to 2,600 kWh/m² per year), has focused on transitioning to photovoltaic and wind energy. In contrast, Quebec has invested in 99% decarbonized electricity through hydroelectricity. In France, green hydrogen and offshore wind are priorities, aiming to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030. These examples highlight the diversity of solutions adopted in different contexts while emphasizing the urgency of strengthened international cooperation, particularly between the Global North and South, to share expertise and technologies for a successful energy transition. This axis explores issues related to the implementation of renewable energies, smart energy systems, energy storage solutions, and the valorization of biomass for energy production. It aims to address questions such as: What are the most efficient hybrid models? What technological advancements support a sustainable and accessible energy transition? What strategies should be recommended for energy storage? How can artificial intelligence contribute to energy optimization? How can public awareness impact daily practices for better energy resource management?
Main Research Themes


1. Technological Innovations for a Sustainable Energy Transition

  • Disruptive renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, green hydrogen)
  • Advanced energy storage (batteries, supercapacitors, thermal storage)
  • Carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS)
  • Smart grids and decentralized energy management
  • Artificial intelligence and big data for optimizing energy systems
  • Nanotechnologies and innovative materials for energy efficiency


2. Renewable Energies and Integration into the Energy Mix

  • Development of solar energy: photovoltaic, solar thermal, CSP
  • Wind energy: offshore and onshore technologies
  • Green hydrogen: production, storage, and industrial applications
  • Integration of renewable energies into electrical grids
  • Marine energies
  • Sustainable exploitation of geothermal resources
  • Tools for life cycle assessment (LCA) and analysis
  • Modeling and simulation tools for energy systems


3. Bioenergy and Waste Valorization

  • Production of biogas from agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste
  • Second and third-generation biofuels
  • Waste-to-energy conversion technologies: incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion
  • Pyrolysis and gasification technologies for biomass
  • Circular economy in the energy sector


4. Energy Management Strategies and Mechanisms

  • National and regional strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Innovative financing mechanisms
  • Sector coupling (energy, transport, industry) for effective decarbonization
  • Energy optimization in industry and transport – carbon footprint reduction
  • Urban planning for a resilient and low-carbon future
  • Energy renovation of buildings and eco-construction
  • Education, awareness, training, and community engagement