Higher and further education institutions across six continents have declared a climate emergency – along with a three-point action plan response.
The move, supported by networks representing more than 7000 institutions, supports steps to go climate neutral by 2030 (2050 at the latest); direct more funding towards ‘action-oriented climate change research’; and increase environmental and sustainability education on campus and through community outreach programmes.
“What we teach shapes the future. We welcome this commitment from Universities to go climate neutral by 2030 and to scale-up their efforts on campus,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UN Environment. “Young people are increasingly at the forefront of calls for more action on climate and environmental challenges. Initiatives which directly involve the youth in this critical work are a valuable contribution to achieving environmental sustainability.”
Read the letter and signatories advocating the declaration. It will be distributed to ‘Ministers meeting in New York today at the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative’.
