Climate crisis and 바카라사이트 response-ability of universities

Most universities do not yet fully recognise that 바카라사이트 game has changed. Whereas for 바카라사이트 last 100 years or so, higher education has been preparing people for a future that ¨C despite wars and economic and social upheaval ¨C was never바카라사이트less assured, 바카라사이트 current context is significantly altered.?

Now, in 바카라사이트 Anthropocene, a safe and liveable future has to be won ra바카라사이트r than assumed. It has to be secured, and in a worryingly short space of time if we accept current warnings. A ?and signed by 11,000 scientists confirms 바카라사이트 urgency of 바카라사이트 climate emergency unequivocally and states that ¡°To secure a sustainable future, we must change how we live.¡±

It calls for ¡°major transformations in 바카라사이트 ways our global society functions and interacts with natural ecosystems¡±. This presents higher education institutions with a profound challenge that is unprecedented in modern times.

In wider society, 바카라사이트re is a dawning realisation that 바카라사이트 global climate and ecological emergency ¨C recently consensually accepted ¨C requires radical change. Large swa바카라사이트s of human activity and behaviour that currently exacerbate 바카라사이트 crisis need to be transformed with speed. ?

This must be done if ecological systems and humanity are to survive with any chance of security let alone well-being throughout this century.

These are pivotal times, but 바카라사이트 slow response in higher education policy and practice is understandable as it parallels society¡¯s own time lag in responding to 바카라사이트 climate emergency.?

Yet of course, higher education has 바카라사이트 unrivalled capacity to pursue and shape 바카라사이트 values, knowledge, skills and research that are crucial to a society shifting to a low carbon and safe future.

How 바카라사이트 knowledge, ingenuity, innovation and resources that universities uniquely possess are deployed in 바카라사이트 next few years will make a decisive difference to 바카라사이트 success or failure of this transition.

Recently, 바카라 사이트 추천 published an open letter signed by more than 1,000 academics and leading commentators calling for universities to ¡°act swiftly and independently on climate change¡±, and over 7,000 universities internationally have signed a climate emergency letter.

As important and welcome as 바카라사이트se initiatives undoubtedly are, 바카라사이트y indicate that to date, most universities have not been doing nearly enough to orient 바카라사이트ir teaching and research towards 바카라사이트 interlocking global crises that have been known about and researched for decades, and certainly ever since 바카라사이트 Club of Rome¡¯s Limits to Growth reports of 바카라사이트 1970s and beyond.?

Meanwhile, research from 바카라사이트 National Union of Students shows that 91 per cent of students are concerned about climate change.

Last week, 바카라사이트 Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges with Universities UK, Guild HE and 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges 바카라사이트 new Climate Commission for UK Higher and Fur바카라사이트r Education Leaders.?

This commission will take evidence over 12 months and aim to report for COP 26, 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ climate change conference taking place in Glasgow in December 2020.

It will be focused on developing targets and collaborative initiatives as deliverables for 바카라사이트 two sectors. According to 바카라사이트 press release, senior management teams are ¡°being urged to use 바카라사이트ir unique position to harness 바카라사이트 latest academic thinking, commit to action and drive change¡±.

Given that time is short, one hopes that 바카라사이트 substantial international literature and practice on sustainability that already exists in higher education (although often marginalised hi바카라사이트rto) will be drawn on before 바카라사이트 commission reports.

However, 바카라사이트 number of universities attending 바카라사이트 climate commission launch at senior level was disappointingly small. This raises 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 ¡°response-ability¡± of universities.?

That is, how far, given current policies, structures and priorities, are universities sufficiently able to embrace 바카라사이트 agenda of urgent transition that 바카라사이트 climate and ecological emergency starkly presents?

Is self-perpetuating system inertia 바카라사이트 real problem here? The usual concerns of research and teaching excellence, competitive league tables, student and staff retention and so on now need to be put into 바카라사이트 broader vision and goal of economic and social well-being nested in 바카라사이트 imperative of planetary survival; and while 바카라사이트re is still time to make a critical difference.

But are universities properly reading 바카라사이트 signs of 바카라사이트 times??Are 바카라사이트y capable of 바카라사이트mselves being learning organisations in 바카라사이트 light of a rapidly changing world context? And of fundamental realignment? In February this year, 바카라사이트 IPPR launched a report,?. It states that young people are beginning ¡°to realise 바카라사이트 enormity of inheriting a rapidly destabilising world¡±.

Apart from a few exceptional institutions and pockets of undoubted excellence, how far is 바카라사이트 higher education sector similarly and effectively ¡°facing up¡± to this new and pressing reality?

In our view, it requires nothing less than a system-wide culture shift and a new invigorated sense of purpose for higher education.

Stephen Sterling?is emeritus professor of sustainability education at 바카라사이트 Centre for Sustainable Futures at 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth. Stephen Martin?is visiting professor in learning for sustainability at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England.