Keynote Speech
Abu Dhabi as a Sustainable City
Overview:
This session will delve into Abu Dhabi’s journey towards becoming a sustainable city, highlighting its pioneering initiatives in renewable energy, urban development, and resource efficiency. It will showcase Abu Dhabi’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions while addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization and balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
SDG Alignment:
- SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities: Focuses on transforming urban spaces to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable
- SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: Emphasizes renewable energy projects in Abu Dhabi
- SDG 13 - Climate Action: Addresses how Abu Dhabi is working to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change through sustainable development.
Objectives:
This session aims to showcase the innovative strategies that have made Abu Dhabi a global leader in urban sustainability and inspire other cities to implement similar solutions to achieve the SDGs.
Abu Dhabi as a Sustainable City
Overview:
This session will delve into Abu Dhabi’s journey towards becoming a sustainable city, highlighting its pioneering initiatives in renewable energy, urban development, and resource efficiency. It will showcase Abu Dhabi’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions while addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization and balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
SDG Alignment:
- SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities: Focuses on transforming urban spaces to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable
- SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: Emphasizes renewable energy projects in Abu Dhabi
- SDG 13 - Climate Action: Addresses how Abu Dhabi is working to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change through sustainable development.
Objectives:
This session aims to showcase the innovative strategies that have made Abu Dhabi a global leader in urban sustainability and inspire other cities to implement similar solutions to achieve the SDGs.
The Future of Sustainable Universities
Overview:
This session will explore the role of universities in fostering sustainability, from integrating green practices in campus operations to advancing sustainability through research, teaching, and community engagement. It will discuss how universities can achieve global sustainability goals, focusing on carbon neutrality, circular economies, and technology-driven solutions.
SDG Alignment:
- SDG 4 - Quality Education: Highlights the importance of integrating sustainability into education, research, and institutional culture.
- SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Focuses on leveraging technology and innovation to create more sustainable campuses.
- SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: Discusses the role of universities in promoting sustainable practices across operations and research.
- SDG 13 - Climate Action: Explores how higher education institutions can contribute to global climate action through sustainable policies and practices
Objectives:
This session aims to empower universities to take leadership in sustainability efforts and provide strategies for overcoming challenges, such as funding, policy support, and cultural shifts towards sustainability.
Plenary Session
Implementing the Vision
Overview:
This session will focus on the three thematic priorities of the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings Network (UIGWURN): shaping global higher education and research in sustainability, creating global sustainability leaders, and partnering on solutions to sustainability challenges. It will also provide a platform for universities to transition from conceptualizing sustainability to implementing concrete actions.
SDG Alignment:
- SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Focuses on global collaboration and collective action to solve sustainability challenges
- SDG 4 - Quality Education: Aims to drive education for sustainability and the creation of knowledge that contributes to global sustainable development
- SDG 13 - Climate Action: Encourages active participation in sustainability programs and actions that contribute to climate change mitigation
Objectives:
The objective is to encourage member universities to participate in UI GreenMetric programs, actively contribute to sustainability initiatives, and forge meaningful partnerships to drive sustainable development in higher education.
Interactive Forum and Small Group Discussion on Advancing Sustainability and Strategic Collaboration within the UIGWURN Network
Overview:
After exploring the three thematic priorities, this session will allow participants to engage in smaller group discussions, exploring how their institutions can better align with the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings Network (UIGWURN) vision. The facilitators will guide discussions on identifying trends, reshaping strategies, and leveraging the network for collective action on sustainability.
SDG Alignment:
- SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Encourages collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and synergies between institutions
- SDG 13 - Climate Action: Focuses on the actions that can be taken collectively to combat climate change
- SDG 4 - Quality Education: Promotes sharing knowledge and strategies to improve sustainability practices in educational institutions
Objectives:
This session aims to encourage universities to reflect on their sustainability practices, identify areas for improvement, and collaborate with others in the UI GreenMetric network to achieve sustainable development goals.
Sustainability Office: Roles, Issues, and Challenges
Overview:
This session will emphasize the importance of the Sustainability Office in driving green initiatives within higher education institutions. It will address the various challenges these offices face, including budget limitations, policy support, and shifting institutional cultures towards more sustainable practices. The session will also highlight the role of the Sustainability Office in integrating sustainable practices into university operations and fostering innovation.
SDG Alignment:
- SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: Focuses on integrating sustainable practices into university operations and promoting responsible resource use
- SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Highlights the role of innovation in sustainability efforts within educational institutions
- SDG 13 - Climate Action: Discusses how sustainability offices contribute to universities’ climate action strategies
- SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities: Focuses on addressing inequalities through sustainable initiatives and ensuring inclusive practices within universities.
Objectives:
This session aims to provide universities with the knowledge and tools to enhance their sustainability efforts, tackle key challenges, and position the Sustainability Office as a central driver of change in university operations.
