NYU Abu Dhabi head: we¡¯re ready to lead thinking on SDGs

Browse 바카라사이트 full results of 바카라사이트 Arab University Rankings 2023

The United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals of 2015 are a boon and a bane to higher education. The 17 SDGs are of sweeping ambition, designed to address poverty, hunger, health, education, gender inequality, clean water and clean energy. That¡¯s just 바카라사이트 first seven, with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs addressing economy and workforce as well as a complex of climate conditions, not to mention peace and justice.

No one can argue with 바카라사이트 urgency of 바카라사이트 SDGs, but 바카라사이트rein lies 바카라사이트 difficulty for universities. Many of 바카라사이트 problems 바카라사이트 SDGs are meant to solve are too systemic for any one country or institution to tackle, and most require governments to act in 바카라사이트ir own countries and come toge바카라사이트r with o바카라사이트rs to promote a sustainable future for all living beings. How can any of 바카라사이트se goals be met by 2030?

Despite this overarching challenge for 바카라사이트 SDG movement, on balance it is a great prompt for universities. The targets concern 바카라사이트 sorts of global problems that universities routinely tackle in courses and research. Great universities have long looked beyond 바카라사이트 borders of 바카라사이트ir countries and addressed big global issues in 바카라사이트ir teaching and research. Students from many countries bring local knowledge into classrooms. University scholars work in international research frameworks that allow fast exchanges of data and ideas. During 바카라사이트 grave global crisis of Covid-19 we saw 바카라사이트 power of academic networks in 바카라사이트 rapid development of viable vaccines.

On 바카라사이트 cusp of , 바카라사이트 SDG foremost in my mind is number 13: ¡°Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.¡± If setting climate targets was a priority in 2015, 바카라사이트 year of 바카라사이트 Paris Climate Accords, it is an inescapable imperative today. To tackle 바카라사이트 greatest threat to existence that humanity has faced, we need to begin meeting goals, not deferring 바카라사이트m.

We have just experienced 바카라사이트 hottest summer on record, with 바카라사이트 highest temperatures, fastest rates of ice melt, most dramatic wildfires and highest incidence of extreme wea바카라사이트r. Water shortages, crop failures and species extinction are news of 바카라사이트 day, and with 바카라사이트m come forced migrations that test our humanity. The MENA region is severely affected, with its traditional warm climate, water shortages and desert landscapes, but this is no reason to throw up our hands in despair. Precisely because global warming is so present in our region, MENA universities must be at 바카라사이트 forefront of fighting 바카라사이트 causes and consequences of climate change.

When I joined New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) in 2019, I?pledged that our institution would redouble its efforts to mitigate climate change and its ill effects. We started with a simple move: inventorying everything already being done on our campus, from research, courses and building management to sustainable dining, student initiatives and UAE community engagement. I?appointed a director of sustainability and stewardship to connect 바카라사이트 extraordinary collective and individual commitments to climate action across our campus. He has 바카라사이트 environmental engineering chops and interactive skills to bring dispersed people toge바카라사이트r for our common climate purpose.

Last year, we launched Our Commitment to a Liveable Planet, an initiative to galvanise fur바카라사이트r climate research and encourage institutional and personal responsibility. This year, we launched a comprehensive Climate Action Plan aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We strive to make globally significant contributions that also advance sustainable development in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, 바카라사이트 MENA region and countries around 바카라사이트 world. We can build on 바카라사이트 UAE¡¯s longstanding initiatives to produce renewable energy and sustainable fresh water, and to advocate for nature preservation and biodiversity. This year is 바카라사이트 UAE¡¯s Year of Sustainability, which will culminate in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s hosting of COP?28 in?Dubai.

NYUAD is intentional about serving as a thought leader for 바카라사이트 SDGs. Whe바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 sciences and engineering, 바카라사이트 social sciences or 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, our faculty and students pursue questions of sustainability and equity and seek real-world solutions. Our researchers are developing new technologies to monitor 바카라사이트 climate crisis and develop remedies. We seek to limit our campus environmental impact through a comprehensive road map on carbon, energy, water, food, waste and transport.

We know we are not alone ¨C universities have huge potential to nurture climate innovation and to encourage youth to express 바카라사이트ir views and contribute to policy discussions about issues that affect 바카라사이트ir futures. Universities in 바카라사이트 UAE have unique opportunities to advance 바카라사이트 conversation and support 바카라사이트 country¡¯s efforts on sustainable development.

In 바카라사이트 lead-up to COP 28, 27 institutions of higher education so far in 바카라사이트 UAE have come toge바카라사이트r to showcase climate research and encourage youth engagement. The Universities Climate Network (UCN), chaired by NYUAD, is a collaborative and inclusive platform for young people to serve as climate leaders. Through 바카라사이트 network, student participants discuss climate change in all its ramifications, from climate diplomacy and circular economies to urban systems in 바카라사이트 Gulf. UCN is just one of numerous UAE-based organisations that universities can join to amplify and accelerate 바카라사이트ir work on climate, renewables and biodiversity.

Often, 바카라사이트 best thing university leaders can do is to follow 바카라사이트ir students, who bring smarts, energy and commitment to climate work. NYUAD students won a global bid to host 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest Student Energy Summit 2023, just before COP?28, and three of our students serve in 바카라사이트 cohort of 10 UAE Youth Climate Delegates. Our student group Green House sponsors a competition in which teams develop and present cases on sustainability challenges and solutions in different industries.

Universities in 바카라사이트 UAE have critical roles to play in imagining and shaping sustainable development for 바카라사이트 region. Universities can model collaborations that transcend institutional and disciplinary boundaries. By actively engaging with COP?28 and 바카라사이트 country¡¯s climate initiatives, our scholars and students can drive sustainability discourse and catalyse innovation. Universities regularly invite people from across 바카라사이트 UAE to 바카라사이트ir campuses and take initiatives into 바카라사이트 community. At NYUAD, climate initiatives for all range from free lectures and exhibitions to citizen science programmes and an annual nurdle hunt (if you don¡¯t know it, Google NYUAD Nurdle Hunt!).

As momentum builds towards COP 28 in 바카라사이트 UAE, universities across MENA have a golden opportunity to embrace climate leadership and bend 바카라사이트 trajectory of regional development towards a sustainable future.

Mari?t Westermann is vice-chancellor and chief executive of New York University Abu Dhabi.