TopUniversities.com finds out how universities are contributing to Rio+20, one of the largest global conferences on sustainability ever held.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, ‘Rio+20’ for short, will be the biggest UN-led international gathering on sustainability issues for a decade.
The conference is being hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20-22 June. This marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, also held in Rio, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The event will see thousands of representatives of governments, NGOs and all kinds of organizations come together to discuss practical strategies for sustainable development – environmental, economic and social – and universities are taking on prominent roles.
Rio+20: What’s it all about?
Two main themes have been identified, based on the overall topic, ‘green economy’. These are:
• How to build a green economy to achieve sustainable development and lift people out of poverty, including support for developing countries that will allow them to find a green path for development,
• How to improve international coordination for sustainable development.
Within these themes, there are seven key priority areas: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.
While the main conference itself takes place across just three days in June, Rio+20 is much bigger than this. Connected events are taking place in the days, weeks and months before and after the conference, not only in Rio, but in locations worldwide.
In addition, organizations are being called upon to make pledges of action, committing to bringing about real change on sustainable issues.
Rio+20: How are universities getting involved?
Universities are involved in all stages of Rio+20 – as event hosts, conference participants, and as signatories to the roll of commitments.
In Rio itself, one of the most prominent events involving university staff and students is the World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities, a two-day event taking place on 5-6 June.
This is being organized by Germany’s Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, and will provide a platform for university staff and students from across the world to share ideas about how universities can contribute to sustainable development.
The Symposium also coincides with the annual World Environment Day, led by the United Nations Environment Program, which challenges individuals worldwide to take positive action for the environment – events range from litter-collecting and tree-planting to crafts, concerts and competitions.
Rio+20: What action can universities take?
Universities from across the globe have also signed up to a roll of commitments, setting out changes to be implemented over the next few years. For example, Egypt’s Cairo University has signed up to include environmental studies in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and to organize environmental outreach programs in local communities.
In China, Tongji University has pledged to organize an international student conference on environment and sustainability and to launch a global university partnership on environment and sustainability.
Baltic College, Germany, has pledged to found a centre for ethics, culture and law, which will contribute to developing the university’s sustainability policies and practices.
In Kazakhstan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) is collaborating with Columbia University, US, as part of the Global Classroom Project. This will enable students in Kazakhstan to complete a Master’s in Development Practice (MDP), whilst benefitting from interactions with some of the field’s leading experts.
Rafis Abazov, director of the MDP/Global Classroom Project at KazNU, explains that the scheme provides “a cutting-edge technological platform which allows for instantaneous live interaction between students, faculty and guests worldwide”.
KazNU’s MDP course includes topics such as climate justice and public policy, and, Abazov says, students are preparing reports in the format of the research papers that will be presented at Rio+20.
This practical approach is characteristic at KazNU. In 2011, for example, students undertook a case study of sustainable development in their local area, coming up with a list of 13 ‘bright ideas’ – low-cost, simple innovations designed to improve issues such as air pollution, malaria and recycling.
Rio+20: Events around the world
KazNU was also selected to host a Rio+20 side event, at which it showcased its ambitious Green Bridge project, which aims to transform Kazakhstan as a whole.
Abazov says, “The main driving force behind the Green Bridge project is the idea to diversify the national economy and move away from dependency on energy exports.”
He adds, “It emphasizes not only the creation of new sectors of national economy and developing and adapting new technologies, especially in alternative energy, but also educating and training a large number of professionals capable of meeting the challenges of the climate change and new economic environment.”
Of course, KazNU is just one of the many universities all around the world taking on a leading role in sustainable development – through research, innovation, practical example, and by providing a platform for students to make real contributions to the future of the planet.
For those who can’t make it to Rio, there are related events being held worldwide, from May 2012 all the way through to March 2013.