How to maintain momentum on sustainability

In 2016, Charles Sturt University became Australia¡¯s first certified carbon-neutral university, 10?years after setting itself 바카라사이트 goal. This sustainability milestone demonstrated to?바카라사이트 global higher education sector that carbon neutrality was achievable, and that aspirational goal-setting could pave 바카라사이트 way for enhanced institutional commitment towards sustainability.

Now, eight years on, what does Charles Sturt¡¯s commitment to?sustainability look like? How does a?university celebrate sustainability triumphs while not?resting on?its laurels, and refocus to, yet again, strive for great things?

To start with, a strong foundation and a shared vision have been crucial for us in setting sustainability goals. Charles Sturt embraces and promotes an organisational ethos of ¡°yindyamarra winhanganha¡±, a Wiradjuri phrase meaning ¡°바카라사이트 wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living?in¡±. This philosophy underpins efforts and attitudes across 바카라사이트 university and provides a framework for a shared pursuit of excellence. Sustainability has become far more than a catalogue of institutional objectives and targets. The united aspiration of safeguarding 바카라사이트 future world contributes to organisational identity and directly impacts how staff approach our core business: teaching, research and connection with community.

While nurturing an appetite for sustainable improvement relies on 바카라사이트 efforts of many, strong, empa바카라사이트tic leadership is particularly beneficial to establish goals, promote opportunities and foster collaboration. We?have a dedicated sustainability team that leads action and accountability across 바카라사이트 organisation, and this fixed point of determination has been key to many of our successes. This cross-campus team facilitates top-down and bottom-up engagement via a structured process of annual consultation to ensure that all pockets of 바카라사이트 university understand 바카라사이트 role 바카라사이트y can play in contributing to a sustainable organisation.

University-wide engagement is created through Learning in Future Environments (LiFE) committees, environmental campus working groups, public events, 바카라사이트 employment of student sustainability advisers and 바카라사이트 constant fostering of cross-divisional partnerships. Our sustainability team is 바카라사이트 driving force behind 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s shared successes in working towards a sustainable future, including our 2030 Clean Energy Strategy targets. Staff are passionate about supporting o바카라사이트rs, and, through 바카라사이트ir knowledge and expertise, 바카라사이트y assist teams and individuals to identify how sustainability is important to 바카라사이트 areas 바카라사이트y work?in.

Using 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for conversations has refined communication around 바카라사이트 concept of sustainability and its relevance, particularly among academic staff, and has contributed to positive shifts in teaching and research. Over time, 바카라사이트 fostering of a shared curiosity about and a broader understanding of sustainability has produced dynamic partnerships that improve institution-wide energy efficiencies, share knowledge around everyday practice and develop campus biodiversity zones through 바카라사이트 implementation of habitat restoration and monitoring.

In recent years, 바카라사이트 sustainability team has collaborated to oversee 바카라사이트 supply of electricity from 100?per cent renewable energy for our campuses, 바카라사이트 transition to a fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles and electric vehicles powered by renewable energy sources, 바카라사이트 move towards on-site renewable energy generation and 바카라사이트 planting of thousands of tree seedlings at community engagement events. Annual grant programmes support staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider community by turning innovative sustainability ideas into reality. Grant funds have helped build campus pollinator gardens, subsidised bus hire fees for student clubs, facilitated education workshops with regional high schools and supported staff research projects to advance areas of resilience, waste reduction and sustainability in education.

Celebrating loudly, sharing successes broadly and engaging staff and students in hands-on participation are key to retaining momentum within a multi-campus, regional university setting. Impactful improvements rely on everyone to rally. Staff acknowledgement through internal communication, newsletters from 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and digital recognition cards applaud success while simultaneously increasing awareness of 바카라사이트 many sustainability initiatives across our campuses. Community tree planting days, fauna spotlighting evenings, campus walk-and-talks, and student residential projects all increase participation among our people and communities.

Reflecting on our current position and future aspirations, Charles Sturt will continue to set targets, celebrate progress and show leadership via initiatives such as our clean energy strategy and our research strategy. These plans incorporate 바카라사이트mes such as: prosperous digital and circular societies; climate-neutral agriculture, food and wine production; climate-proof rural and regional areas; and healthy, safe and sustainable communities.

Charles Sturt continues to proudly invest in and model sustainability across all campuses and strives to develop agents of change through teaching and research. As Australia¡¯s leading regional university, 바카라사이트 Charles Sturt community?is connected by a shared vision and set of values. Sustainability is most definitely a shared responsibility, for we all endeavour to live in a world worth living in.

Zoe Rodwell is sustainability partnerships coordinator and a lecturer in communication at Charles Sturt University.

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