PR88796

HANGZHOU, China, March 31, 2021 /Xinhua=KYODO JBN/--

On 30th March, 2021, university presidents from 30 countries unite for the

first time to announce action on climate change by signing the Joint Statement

of Global University Leaders on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

witnessed by UN officials, according to Zhejiang University.

At the first global online forum for university leaders, hosted by Zhejiang

University in China, presidents from 56 universities across six continents have

committed to working together to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs). The

initiative includes five key aspects which all signatories have agreed to:

implementing the concept of sustainable development, improving sustainable

development competence, supporting scientific research in response to global

challenges, working with global partners to provide innovative solutions and

constructive transnational cooperation on specific issues.

Among the top 50 universities on the QS World University Rankings, 80% have

developed their university-level sustainability strategy, plans or operational

activities. According to Zhaohui Wu, President of Zhejiang University (ZJU),

the purpose of the forum was to bring together leaders from some of the best

universities to share these visions and best practices on SDGs and explore

opportunities for potential cooperation in safeguarding a sustainable future.

With less than 9 years to go to meet targets and the pandemic slowing progress,

the forum allowed leaders to share essential expertise on how to scale up

efforts to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. The event gave academics a platform to

clearly outline their action plans for human-oriented, innovation-driven and

down-to-earth sustainable development.

UN officials, including Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary-General and

Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, joined the

panel of speakers including Peter Salovey, President of Yale University, Pam

Fredman, President of the International Association of Universities, and Eric

Labaye, President of Ecole Polytechnique.

Speakers reinforced how universities can work together to harness the power of

technology to expand access to quality education. They also discussed how they

should draw on their academic ecosystem to support scientific collaborations

and knowledge transfer across disciplines.

Universities that have signed the initiative include Peking University, Kyoto

University, Korea University, National University of Singapore, Harvard

University, Yale University, University of Toronto, University College London,

Ecole Polytechnique, University of Oslo, Peter the Great St. Petersburg

Polytechnic University, the University of Sydney, Stellenbosch University and

Universidade Estadual de Campinas, etc.

Nikhil Seth, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, said: "SDGs

belong to each of us and everything we do impacts on the achievement, in the

aggregate, to SDG achievement."

Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, said:

"The organization of the forum is timely, especially given the increasingly

pivotal role of universities not only in fostering understanding and knowledge,

but also in contributing to the building of knowledge-based societies and for

the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Pam Fredman, President of the International Association of Universities, Paris,

said: "Co-operation and cohesion among Higher Education Institutions and

organisations will foster knowledge development and sharing."

Peter Salovey, President of Yale University, said: "Yale University has reduced

greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent over the past 15 years, even though the

campus square footage has increased significantly."

Svein Stolen, Rector at the University of Oslo, said: "More equal and mutually

beneficial partnerships must be developed upon scientific principles, academic

values, a shared vision and shared goals which place people and the planet at

the centre."

At the forum, ZJU launched its own sustainable action plan to enhance its

engagement with the SDGs. Zhaohui Wu, President of Zhejiang University, said:

"The 'Global ZJU for Social Good' plan establishes five objectives and

associated actions to improve our sustainability-related education, research,

and practices within the ZJU community and among other stakeholders in China

and beyond. We aim to advocate for responsible sustainability, educate for a

sustainable future, advance scientific collaborations, partner for collective

well-being and create greener campuses."

Source: Zhejiang University

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   Caption: On 30th March, 2021, university presidents from 30 countries unite for the

first time to announce action on climate change by signing the Joint Statement

of Global University Leaders on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

witnessed by UN officials.