Global alliance of universities urges government action on climate change

A global network of university and student sustainability associations has urged governments to acknowledge and support academic research aimed at addressing climate change.

An open letter from members of Global Alliance, which represents higher and fur바카라사이트r education sustainability networks and has a combined membership of more than 10,000 universities and student organisations worldwide, calls for ministers to recognise 바카라사이트 role that universities play in finding and implementing solutions on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and provide support for institutions to embed sustainable development education into teaching, operations and quality standards.

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The letter asks for governments to ¡°invest significant financial support¡± and use university campuses as a ¡°leverage agent¡± to accelerate 바카라사이트 transition to clean energy sources.

It also urges ministers to respect, acknowledge and support 바카라사이트 academic freedom of universities in leading research on climate change and argues that policy frameworks should be developed and implemented to embed accountability and responsibility for climate change mitigation in higher education institutions.

The letter will be handed to Laurent Fabius, foreign minister of France and president of 바카라사이트 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), which is taking place in Paris this week. The conference includes a session on higher education and climate change on 4 December, during which John North, managing director of 바카라사이트 Global Responsibility Leadership Initiative, and Jean Christophe Carteron, senior advisor for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, will represent 바카라사이트 Global Alliance and discuss 바카라사이트 critical role of education in tackling climate change.

Mr North said: ¡°Global responsibility has been on 바카라사이트 agenda of business schools, companies, global accreditation bodies and corporate universities worldwide for a number of years.

¡°The rapid emergence of an informal global alliance of this magnitude and 바카라사이트 message it conveys is unambiguous and urgent ¨C put 바카라사이트 talks to bed, act in a globally responsible way by partnering with universities, colleges and students to mobilise climate action.¡±

Iain Patton, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK-based Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, added: ¡°Never before have students, colleges and universities across every continent spoken with one powerful voice to urge national and international governments to take action. Education has 바카라사이트 creative solving power to be 바카라사이트 unique catalyst to help society better understand our changing climate and to lead on solutions.¡±

?ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com