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Introduction

 

Table of Contents

Background

About the UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [See Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the full document]. This marked the first time the global community agreed on an actionable agenda with priorities, goals, and targets that included all countries and all citizens. Inclusivity was a priority during the development of the goals – with non-governmental decision-makers, sectoral experts, and the population at large, involved through a variety of consultative processes. Summarized as 17 broad goals, the SDGs offer a set of aspirational priorities to accomplish by 2030. These goals are supported by 169 targets, each of which has indicators that ground the goals in measurable outcomes.

17 Sustainable Development Goals: GOAL 1: No Poverty GOAL 2: Zero Hunger GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being GOAL 4: Quality Education GOAL 5: Gender Equality GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production GOAL 13: Climate Action GOAL 14: Life Below Water GOAL 15: Life on Land GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals

 

While there has been progress on the SDGs since their launch, it is widely accepted that concerted and inclusive efforts are required to achieve them by 2030, especially given the disruption to initial pathways of achieving the Goals posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the worsening impacts of climate change. The complexity and comprehensive nature of the global goals requires integrated solutions, coordinated actions, transparency, accountability, and scaled policies and programs. While there has been consistent rhetoric about the need for collective action to achieve the Goals, much of the dialogue has focused on the private sector, NGOs, and municipalities. Until recently, the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) has received less attention, and contributions have been narrowly defined. To realize the full value proposition of HEIs in advancing the SDGs, there is a need for both a critical conversation about the pathways through which HEIs can advance progress and about how the SDGs can advance the mission of HEIs. Realistically, it is also useful to consider the limitations of the SDGs as a framework – while they are an excellent platform for bringing disparate actors together, the exercise of applying the language and key themes of the Goals to existing activities may not always merit the time and effort. This publication aims to promote these conversations and provide a platform for ongoing and adaptive shared learning.

 

Foundation for this Publication 

 

International Alliance of Research Universities Institutions: Australian National University, ETH Zürich, National University of Singapore, Peking University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Cambridge, University of Cape Town, University of Copenhagen, University of Oxford, the University of Tokyo, and Yale University.

International Alliance of Research Universities Institutions

Established in 2006, the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) is a network of 11 research-intensive universities from nine countries that work together on a shared vision and commitment to educating future world leaders. In 2009, IARU created the Sustainable Campus Initiative to catalyze campus sustainability work of member universities by sharing best practices and working collaboratively. Each member institution has a robust set of campus sustainability initiatives, and the collaborative effort to foster dialogue, innovate, and measure successes. Developing solutions has both enhanced the Alliance and the commitments of each member. This spirit of collective action in the context of different national circumstances helped to shape the narrative on the role that higher education institutions (HEIs) can play in achieving the SDGs.

 

Green Guide for Universities: IARU Pathways Towards Sustainability

In 2014, the IARU Sustainable Campus Initiative published the coauthored book, The Green Guide for Universities: IARU pathways towards sustainability. Aimed at sharing best practices and lessons learned with peer institutions and offering foundational concepts for universities new to the sustainability journey, the book was first launched at the Greening Your Campus conference in Copenhagen. Since its launch, the Green Guide has been read over 9,500 times, accessed in 135 countries, and translated to Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish (September 2019). Building on this success, the IARU Sustainability group decided to launch this SDG publication. As you progress through this publication, you will notice that it mirrors the Green Guide in format, however, due to the rapidly evolving field, this dynamic online platform will be updated regularly.

2018 International Sustainable Campus Network Conference

In June 2018, the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) hosted a half-day program on the role of academia in advancing the SDGs during the annual conference of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) in Stockholm, Sweden. Led and organized by IARU professionals and faculty members, the event featured presentations from both IARU and non-IARU universities. The event was structured into two plenaries, four breakout sessions, and a keynote address from Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. The breakout sessions were moderated by IARU representatives and featured presenters from universities around the globe. Four IARU students acted as rapporteurs for the event and then developed a full report that showcases the presentations, discussions, and cross-cutting themes. This report, which is available in the additional resources section, was the foundation for this publication.

Looking ahead: Response and Resilience

Beyond the outcomes of this foundational event, this publication is an evolving document which seeks to support institutions as they develop and improve their sustainable pathways into the future they choose.

In 2020, the world is facing the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the frequency and scale of extreme weather events, reports signifying the collective failure to achieve a single biodiversity goal, and a series of activities calling attention to pervasive inequality and injustice around the world. As these issues impact our campus and surrounding communities, IARU recognized the need for meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange around the role of HEIs in responding to and learning from crises and in advancing resilience. Added in 2020, the Response and Resilience chapter aims to share insights on how IARU members have navigated challenging scenarios and emphasize the role of HEIs as the knowledge sector. While the chapter will most directly benefit peer institutions, other stakeholders such as students, decision-makers, NGOs, and sustainability networks may also find value in it.

HEIs as the Knowledge Sector

How HEIs currently engage with the UN, and how they can engage better

Because there is general agreement that collaborative polycentric action on the priorities established by the SDGs is required, HEIs engagement with various UN entities provides an ideal opportunity to explore current and potential future forms of collaboration. Currently, HEIs engage with the UN through the following programs:

  • Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI): [1] Created in 2012 in the run-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), HESI is a member group that seeks to amplify the voice and outreach of higher education institutions that are taking the lead on implementing the 2030 Agenda, providing a forum for exchange of experiences and best practices on bringing this agenda to campuses worldwide.
  • United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Initiative: Launched by Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, this program works with over 1,200 institutions from around the world to align HEIs in supporting and contributing to the realization of UN goals and mandates, including the promotion and protection of human rights, access to education, sustainability and conflict resolution.
  • UN-Habitat University Initiative (UNI): UNI aims to promote cooperation between UN-Habitat and institutions of higher education, as well as facilitating exchange and cooperation among universities globally. UNI promotes universities becoming closer partners of cities, actively engaging in problem-solving, thus closing the gap between academia and practice and encouraging collaborative learning. UNI promotes and facilitates the dissemination of educational and research products of its members and involves scholars, researchers, and students in a number of activities.
  • Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN): Operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN advocates that universities can and will play a leadership role in the implementation of the SDGs.

While these are the most visible, it is important to note that there is a myriad of initiatives, programs, faculty, and students at individual HEIs that are engaging with the UN. In order to capture the full value proposition of HEI engagement with the SDGs and to promote shared learning and replicable and scalable examples, there is a need to understand in practice how HEIs are advancing this work. For this reason, the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) has taken on the challenge to work together to promote and share the best experiences and failures on the road to globally achieving the SDGs.

 

 

Footnotes

[1] HESI is a partnership between the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA); the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Environment, the UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, United Nations University, UN-HABITAT, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

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