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Universities Facing Climate Change and Sustainability

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Universities Facing Climate Change and Sustainability Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability Edited by Tristan McCowan, Walter Leal Filho, and Luciana Brandli Commissioned by Körber-Stiftung in preparation for the The Global University Leaders Council Hamburg The co-organizers understand the GUC Hamburg as (GUC Hamburg) is an initiative of the German Rectors’ a forum for discussions on the core mission of the university Conference, Körber-Stiftung and Universität Hamburg. in a globalized higher education landscape. It is the aim of the Council to initiate a dialogue among The study »Universities facing Climate Change and university leaders about the current key challenges that Sustainability« was commissioned by Körber-Stiftung national higher education systems around the globe are in preparation for the 2021 Global University Leaders confronted with. The process of globalization has led to a Council Hamburg. situation in which higher education systems worldwide are facing a number of similar challenges. These range from threats to university autonomy and academic freedom to conflicting theories of the university and education, and from questions of access to higher education to the financing of university teaching and research. www.hrk.de www.koerber-stiftung.de www.uni-hamburg.de Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability Edited by Tristan McCowan, Walter Leal Filho and Luciana Brandli Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability Initiators The study ‘Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability’ was commissioned by Körber-Stiftung in preparation for the 2021 Global University Leaders Council. The GUC Hamburg is an initiative of the German Rectors´Conference, Körber-Stiftung and Universität Hamburg. German Rectors’ Conference The German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) is the association of universities in Germany. The HRK is an in- dependent organisation, representing all types of higher education institutions. More than 92 percent of all students in Germany are enrolled at its member universities. Hence, the HRK is the political and public voice of the universities and the forum for the universities’ joint opinion-forming process. The HRK helps to set the political agenda and lead public discussion on all issues relating to the universities. In this context, the HRK represents the universities’ positions in Germany and Europe as well as on the international stage. Furthermore, the HRK supports its member institutions and provides them with a platform for exchange among each other. www.hrk.de Körber-Stiftung Social development needs dialogue and understanding. Through its operational projects, in its networks and in conjunction with cooperation partners, Körber-Stiftung takes on current social challenges in areas of activities comprising Innovation, International Dialogue and Vibrant Civil Society. Inaugurated in 1959 by the entrepre- neur Kurt A. Körber, the foundation is now actively involved in its own national and international projects and events. In particular, the foundation feels a special bond to the city of Hamburg. Furthermore, the foundation holds a site in the capital of Germany, Berlin. www.koerber-stiftung.de Universität Hamburg Designated a University of Excellence by the German Federal and State Governments in 2019, Universität Hamburg is one of the strongest research universities in Germany. As a flagship university inhe t greater Hamburg region, it fosters innovative, cooperative contacts with partners inside and outside academia. It also provides and promotes sustainable education, knowledge, and knowledge-exchange locally, nationally, and internationally. The University boasts numerous interdisciplinary research projects covering the full spectrum of disciplines in the humanities, law, economics, business administration, social sciences and the natural and life sciences. We combine excellent research and academic breadth in teaching and currently offer 170 under- graduate and graduate degree programmes, including teacher training and medicine. Additionally, we maintain an extensive partner network of leading regional, national, and international higher education and research institutions. As part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments, Universität Hamburg has been granted Clusters of Excellence for 4 core research areas: CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter (photon and nanosciences); Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) (climate research); Understanding Written Artefacts (manuscript research); and Quantum Universe (mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cos- mology). www.uni-hamburg.de/en 2 Preface Preface We are all called upon to promote sustainable development and take action to address the climate crisis. Along with other societal institutions, universities across the world have the potential to play a key role in addressing two of the major challenges of our times. Providing higher education and resear ch, they make a significant contribution to both climate protection and a sustainable future. And yet, there is still room for improvement. It is safe to say that in many cases, universities have not yet reached their full potential impact. The lack of a coherent institutional vision or strategy, or the distraction of competing priorities and structural and financial constraints might preclude universities from focusing on climate protection and sustainable development. However, at the same time, a steadily growing number of universities across the globe are playing a leading role in the fight for a ainablesust world and against climate change. Now is the time to make the contributions of universities more visible in order to inspire others, share our experience and show what is needed to overcome hurdles. This process will hopefully lead to the creation of incentives, structures, and networks that will help universities to further realise their potential. This scien- tific study and the Hamburg Council for which it was written aim to contribute to this goal. The Global University Leaders Council Hamburg is a joint initiative of the German Rectors’ Conference, Körber-Stiftung, and Universität Hamburg. In preparation for the 2021 Hamburg Council, Körber-Stiftung asked Professor Tristan McCowan of the Institute of Education at University College London to analyse and compare engagement in sustainability and climate action in various higher education systems around the world. McCowan and his team focus on the role universities define for themselves as we ll as on their actual practices in teaching, research, and innovation. In addition, they pay special attention to the challenges encountered by universities and to the role university leaders play throughout the entire process. The study looks in detail at the situation in Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. It also presents cross-national lessons learned as well as recommendations for future action. Tristan McCowan’s insightful study will provide the participants of the Global University Leaders Council Hamburg with a solid base for their strategic discussions. In June 2021, around 50 university leaders from around the world will gather in a virtual forum to formulate recommendations for the future engagement of universities in sustainability initiatives and climate action. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Tristan McCowan, Walter Leal Filho, Luciana Brandli, and their fellow contributors for their truly excellent work. It is our firm beliefhat t the study at hand will make an impact that will reach beyond the specific event for which it was commissioned. The 2021 Global University Leaders Council Hamburg will benefit from this volume as will future readers. Professor Dr Peter-André Alt Tatjana König Professor Dr Dr h.c. Dieter Lenzen President Member of the Executive Board President German Rectors’ Conference Körber-Stiftung Universität Hamburg 3 Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability 4 Table of Contents Table of Contents Initiators 2 Preface 3 Executive Summary 6 Section I: The Challenge Posed 13 Chapter 1: Introduction: Understanding higher education and sustainability across contexts 14 Tristan McCowan Chapter 2: Climate change and sustainability: concepts, evidence and global frameworks 23 Luciana Brandli and Amanda Salvia Chapter 3: The role and impact of the university 38 Walter Leal Filho and Valeria Vargas Section II: Country Cases 53 Chapter 4: Brazil 54 Amanda Salvia and Luciana Brandli Chapter 5: Germany 62 Walter Leal Filho Chapter 6: India 72 Golda Edwin and Nandhivarman Muthu Chapter 7: Japan 83 Jing Liu Chapter 8: South Africa 92 Rudi Pretorius Chapter 9: United Kingdom 104 Valeria Vargas Chapter 10: USA 114 Julie Newman Section III: Meeting Points and Ways Forward 123 Chapter 11: Overcoming obstacles to sustainability: lessons from the seven countries 124 Tristan McCowan, Walter Leal Filho and Valeria Vargas Chapter 12: Conclusion and Outlook 142 Tristan McCowan Acknowledgements 149 Author biographies 150 5 Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability Executive Summary experienced by institutions in engaging with this task. In particular, it focuses on the change that can Understanding higher education and be brought at institutional level, through leadership sustainability across contexts in different parts of the university and the ways that staff and students can work together to fulfil the Humanity is currently facing a critical challenge in mission of sustainability. its relationship with the natural
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