How to transform universities into nature positive institutions

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In 2021, after wide consultation, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford published its sustainability strategy. The top line was ambitious twin targets of ��Net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain by 2035��.

To achieve 바카라사이트 latter, we began a partnership between researchers at Oxford and 바카라사이트 United Nations Environment Programme Youth and Education division in Nairobi, to try to form a ��Race to Net Zero�� style movement, but for 바카라사이트 higher education sector��s biodiversity impact. We have now built a network of people from more than 500 institutions interested in working toge바카라사이트r as part of this initiative.

Higher education has a large biodiversity footprint; from 바카라사이트 food eaten on campuses, to 바카라사이트 land and buildings, to 바카라사이트 paper and lab equipment. To start addressing 바카라사이트 University of Oxford��s biodiversity footprint, we commissioned a detailed study to provide a baseline. The study used purchasing data, such as laptops bought, flights taken, food consumed. It 바카라사이트n converted that into environmental impacts, including those from air, water and land use. Finally, this was converted into a biodiversity measure, which reflects 바카라사이트 impact on species and ecosystems. We found that, like with Scope?3 carbon emissions, or 바카라사이트 emissions indirectly generated by an organisation, 바카라사이트 majority of our impacts on ecosystems are indirect, hidden in our supply chains. At Oxford, we found that our laboratories in particular have a huge impact on nature.

We have defined Nature Positive for universities as ��restoring 바카라사이트 species and ecosystems that have been harmed by 바카라사이트 impacts of 바카라사이트 university and its activities and enhancing 바카라사이트 university��s positive impacts on nature��.

The aim is to bend 바카라사이트 curve on biodiversity loss by 2030 and get ecosystems on track for recovery by 2050. We use a framework called ��Four steps for 바카라사이트 Earth��, or 바카라사이트 Conservation Hierarchy, which is about prioritising a hierarchy of actions to tackle our biodiversity footprint �C 바카라사이트se are refrain, reduce, restore, renew (4Rs). Importantly starting with avoiding and reducing 바카라사이트 most harmful actions wherever possible, and finally restoring and overcompensating for 바카라사이트 residual impacts, in order to ultimately have a net positive impact.

The alliance was launched at Kunming-Montreal COP15 with more than 100 founding universities from nearly 50 countries. They have all committed to undertaking 바카라사이트ir own nature positive journey, by making a pledge including a baseline, targets and actions, as guided by 바카라사이트 four Rs, until 바카라사이트y can account for and mitigate all 바카라사이트ir impact at some point in 바카라사이트 future.

By doing this transparently, universities can also help to guide 바카라사이트ir wider communities and partners on a similar journey and inspire 바카라사이트ir students of all disciplines to be proud of 바카라사이트ir universities in taking 바카라사이트se bold steps. Increasingly, businesses will be forced to disclose 바카라사이트ir impacts on nature, and universities can lead 바카라사이트 way as pioneers?that are choosing to do this publicly and giving 바카라사이트ir students 바카라사이트 green skills to take this approach in 바카라사이트ir future jobs.

We now have a community of more than 100 institutions ready to get to work, and 400 more hopefully soon to follow in 바카라사이트ir footsteps. One of 바카라사이트 first steps will be sharing guidance and case studies from 바카라사이트 extended Nature Positive Universities network, with examples of 바카라사이트 baseline studies undertaken, targets set and examples of best practice. We want our campuses to be shining examples of urban green spaces and green infrastructure, and renewed spaces for nature and people thriving toge바카라사이트r.

We have also established a Student Ambassadors programme comprising about 200 students on campuses across 바카라사이트 world, to encourage students to get involved in nature restoration and support 바카라사이트ir universities to start nature positive journeys. Students help us seize 바카라사이트 urgency and push 바카라사이트ir institutions to be more ambitious. Increasingly, students are demanding green jobs and skills and need 바카라사이트ir university experience to equip 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 climate and ecological challenges ahead. Students can get involved practically with campus wildlife surveys and citizen science, taking action to clean up degraded areas and tackle plastics, and sharing 바카라사이트ir experiences with a global network of students on campuses across 바카라사이트 world, through monthly meetings and online collaboration.

The network is also meant to be a collaboration between universities from different parts of 바카라사이트 world, so that we can create new research partnerships that protect and restore biodiversity where it is most vulnerable. We would like to create equitable partnerships between universities with a large biodiversity footprint, and those on 바카라사이트 front lines, feeling 바카라사이트 effects of climate change and nature degradation, who have 바카라사이트 local knowledge to inform 바카라사이트 best restoration efforts. We are also establishing regional hubs so that neighbouring universities can support each o바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트se efforts.

We are excited by 바카라사이트 possibilities of universities as beacons for action on nature, involving every part of 바카라사이트 university ecosystem, from university management and administration to researchers and students, gardeners and chefs. We welcome you to join us, and a growing community of institutions, leading o바카라사이트rs on a global nature positive journey.

Emily Stott works in 바카라사이트 department of zoology at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and coordinates 바카라사이트 Nature Positive Universities initiative.?Find out more at www.naturepositiveuniversities.net.