Towards sustainable campuses
Presidents of ten of the world’s leading research universities talked about how research institutions both influence and bring value to society. One way that the IARU member universities have contributed value in their regions is through the IARU Sustainable 必博官网,必博体育 Initiative.
ETH Zürich hosted members of the International Alliance of Research Universities (external page IARU) on 24 – 25 April 2014, for its annual Presidents’ Meeting. The presidents and key members of the leadership from Australian National University, National University of Singapore, University of California, Berkeley, University of Copenhagen, The University of Tokyo, Peking University, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and Yale University gathered to reconfirm their commitment as an alliance to addressing key issues facing society - from aging, longevity, and health to climate change and the impact of campus activities on the environment.
You might ask, “What do the presidents of ten of the world’s leading research universities talk about when they come together around the table?” They talk about how research institutions both influence and bring value to society. One way that IARU member universities have contributed value to society is through the “Sustainable 必博官网,必博体育 Initiative.” In fact, this initiative is one of the flagship activities of IARU.
“Sustainable 必博官网,必博体育 Initiative”
During the Presidents’ Meeting, Dominik Brem, ETH Zürich’s Deputy Head for Safety, Health and Environment presented an update on the IARU “Sustainable 必博官网,必博体育 Initiative.” He reported on an upcoming publication with the working title, “The Green Universities Guide,” that represents the collective contribution and achievements of IARU member universities.
The guide will include recommendations for making campuses more environmentally sustainable and best practices case studies that illustrate the leadership role that IARU member institutions have demonstrated in their regions. The guide will be launched at the IARU “Making Universities Sustainable” conference, open to leading decision makers, university facility managers, and members of industry in October 2014.
In addition, a benchmarking study will also be published in 2009, IARU member universities set institutional goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The benchmarking study reviews how institutions have progressed towards their goals.
Leaders driving issues forward
ETH Zurich’s president Ralph Eichler emphasized that it is important that we not only talk about sustainability and environmental issues, but that we actually “walk the talk,” and do something about the issues. He continued, “ETH Zürich is an example of a campus that implements our research. Alliances, like IARU help us to compare best practices with other universities.” Eichler noted that this opportunity for comparison presents a competitive spirit that strengthens the resolve of institutions to reduce CO2 emissions and increase energy efficiency. He stated that ETH Zürich takes a comprehensive view of energy and greenhouse emissions including how students, staff, and faculty commute to and from the university’s campuses.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton, University of Oxford indicated, “student exchange programs and benchmarking are among the most valuable outcomes for institutional alliances. These programs enable discussion of best practices and allow leading institutions to learn what works best in other universities.”
Rector Ralf Hemmingsen, University of Copenhagen reported that the university’s investment in infrastructure and cultural campaigns has enabled them to reach their goal of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions. For the IARU Congress on Sustainability five years ago, the university built the first carbon-neutral public building in Denmark, called, “The Green Lighthouse” demonstrating how collaboration and alliances can present a positive example as many foreign visitors have come to see it. Hemmingsen said, “This example shows us that when you set a goal and focus your resources, you can move things. The IARU has also helped us to keep up the momentum.”
Bringing added value to society
ETH Zürich and other IARU member universities serve as beacons not only for their own communities, but also in an international forum. Through collaboration in university alliances, like IARU, ETH Zürich and other member institutions are able to bring value to society by adopting best practices in environmental management and fostering accountability and transparency.
