Living Lab in a Dutch University: Towards a More Sustainable and Healthy Food Future
A publication of the United Nations Environment Programme titled launched in 2022 says that “Excessive consumption of animal-based food and food wastage are two major contributors to lifestyles carbon footprints and major causes of other environmental challenges (…) Meat and dairy products, as well as certain kinds of seafood, have high environmental impact, not only per kilogram of food but also per calorie and per gram of protein. Plant-based protein sources (…) can meet nutritional needs of most healthy adults with a far smaller carbon footprint and reducing food waste.
Fashion Forward: Academia Partnering to Amplify Impact and Innovation
According to the , fashion is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. The industry also produces a lot of waste, with 87% of fiber inputs incinerated or disposed of in a landfill and 20% of global wastewater worldwide is generated from fabric dyeing and treatment. Innovators and entrepreneurs are addressing these issues and finding solutions on their fashion journey.
To move fashion forward as part of this era of sustainability, pioneering brands are making sustainability commitments and meeting challenges head-on. Tommy Hilfiger and its vision to ‘Waste Nothing and Welcome All’ reflects the urgent need for fashion and the global economy to enhance their business models and make them more sustainable. It is also one brand leading the way in the Fashion Frontier Challenge.
Sustainable Energy Behavior: Ukrainian University Studies Digital Public Goods
Given the world’s challenges, including climate change concerns, efforts are being made globally to make the transition to renewable energies a reality. To explore how digital public goods could be used for such purpose, a team from
Integrating Refugee Students: The Model of a Portuguese University
Some eight years ago, the flow of persons needing international protection to the European continent increased significantly, and many asylum seekers and refugees were in the typical higher education age range. In light of this situation, the , a member institution of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in Portugal, created a unique channel for students, academics, and professionals with refugee status under applicable Portuguese Law and .
University in New Zealand Delivers Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education
Within the ,Goal 4: Quality Education aspires to inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. As the Hub of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) for that Goal, the , a member institution in New Zealand, is working towards this in a unique context, with a diverse student body including cohorts of Māori and Pacific students.
Addressing Violence Against Children: Paraguayan University Students Step In
“Violence against children is prevalent in each country where it is measured. Every survey conducted to date concerning violence against children has found that it is a significant and prevalent problem,” warns a about this situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. To contribute to addressing such issue, the , a member institution of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in Paraguay, became part of the JERE Volunteer Program.
Fostering Inclusion of Visually Impaired University Students: A Digital Audio Library
Although the basic needs of those studying at the university are primarily similar, students with disabilities usually require additional and special attention from the institutions of higher education in which they study. And this is because the plans, programs, equipment, and accessibility of universities are typically more suitable for students who do not have disabilities. Thus, adaptation of the necessary physical and academic environment is vital to improve the educational experience of disabled students in general.
Pakistani University Innovates: Applying Modern Technologies to Agriculture
According to an published in April 2023 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – FAO, “the global agriculture value added increased steadily by 2.8 percent each year on average, from USD 2.9 trillion in 2012 to USD 3.7 trillion in 2021; it kept increasing despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.” In developing countries like Pakistan, the agricultural sector is indispensable to economic growth, food security, employment generation, and poverty reduction.
Egyptian University Improves Youth's Awareness of Climate Change
Climate change is a global emergency that goes beyond national borders, and it is a critical issue that, without a doubt, requires international cooperation and coordinated solutions at all levels. To tackle climate change and its negative impacts, world leaders at the reached a breakthrough on 12 December 2015: the historic .
It includes commitments to reduce emissions and focuses on adaptation to the impacts of climate change while calling for strengthening obligations. In addition, the Agreement provides a pathway for developed nations to assist developing ones in their climate mitigation efforts while creating a robust framework for transparent monitoring and reporting of countries’ climate goals.
Protecting Older Adults: University Calls for Heat Health Education
“The impacts of weather and climate are most clearly felt during extreme events such as heavy rain and snow, droughts, heatwaves, cold spells, and storms, including tropical storms and cyclones. These meteorological and climatological extremes, individually, in combination and in conjunction with other factors, can lead to other events (…) Together, these have a wide range of impacts on human and natural systems,” warned the which was published in April 2023 by the World Meteorological Organization.
Strategies Grounded In Scientific Research: Restoring Marine Ecosystem
Covering more than 70% of the planet, the oceans are arguably Earth’s most powerful resource. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States, close to six hundred thousand kilometers of coastline edge them, and almost one-third of the world’s population—2.4 billion people—live within 160 kilometers of their shores. On that note, ocean degradation is one of humanity’s most compelling challenges, also addressed in the .
Experts Discuss Role of Academia and Partnerships on Water Action
On Thursday, 23 March 2023, the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) co-hosted at UN Headquarters in New York the event ‘Our water world: on the frontlines of water access and governance,’ aimed at addressing key areas through ongoing research projects, presenting policymakers with scientific knowledge to achieve .
The highlighted frontlines were coastal and riverine communities, rivers and delta systems, small island developing states, and clean and accessible water as common good or commodity. In addition, the event raised a discussion on the vital relevance of academia in achieving Goal 6 and the .
Taking Student Action: Promoting Gender Equality on Campus and Beyond
Since 2018, the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the have partnered on the , designed to convene, challenge and celebrate student leadership advancing United Nations goals and principles. The Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program to help students curate and implement community-level initiatives to promote sustainability and public service.
Brazilian 'Girls in Computer Science': Students Mentoring Students
The state of Paraíba is located in the Northeast of Brazil, a region where investments in science and technology are scarce, and the infrastructure in education is somehow precarious. Among the five regions of the country, the Northeast has the lowest Human Development Index (HDI): 0.608. Thus, regional inequalities regarding development are enormous. These inequalities, however, are even more significant when considering gender.
In a predominantly male universe, female undergraduate students at the , a member institution of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative in Brazil, decided to form the “Girls in Computer Science” group, uniting around two areas of action that actively promote the insertion of women in science and technology, aiming at reducing gender inequalities while generating decent jobs, and fighting poverty.
Turkish Universities React to Recent Earthquakes
In the early morning of 6 February 2023, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.6 occurred in southern Türkiye. According to a issued on 19 February by the , citing official data, the seismic events had a significant impact, including the collapse or heavy damage of 345,000 individual units in 90,609 buildings, as well as the death of over 40,000 people. At the same time, more than 108,000 were injured, and 430,000 had to be relocated.