City commits to the United Nation’s Global Goals in first-of-its-kind report

Launched at an online event, the City - UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development Report 2020, presents examples and case studies of how the City community is aligning its activities to meet each of the 17 UN Global Goals.

Key points from the report were:

• City has committed to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2040.
• City students will continue to mentor in schools as part of an accredited mentoring and coaching module on the undergraduate degree curriculum. To date, 191 City students have supported 183 pupils in four London secondary schools and 282 first-year university students settling into their study programme.
• City will uphold and develop its global collaborations, such as providing accredited support and guidance to non-profit organisations such as British Land, supporting energy cutting initiatives with the Islington Sustainable Energy Partnership, promoting health and wellbeing with the Obesity Policy Research Unit and more.

The 17 UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development were established to create a better world, end poverty, fight inequality and take action on climate change.

Analysing five key areas including academic research, education, engagement with students, campus infrastructure and governance, the report represents the first stage of an interactive project which will connect staff and students to City’s sustainable efforts.

The publication of this report marks a very important shift in the way we think about sustainability at City. For the first time the report aims to capture not only our mitigative efforts but also the positive contributions of the university, as a whole.

Higher education and the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development

The report was launched at an online panel discussion analysing the role higher education has in achieving the UN Global Goals.
The discussion was chaired by Dr Christopher McDowell, Assistant Vice President (International).

Panellists included Dr Colleen Howell, Teaching Fellow in Education and International Development at University College London (UCL); Dr Joanna Newman MBE FRSA, the first female Secretary General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU); and Meg Barker, Senior Project Manager at Students Organising for Sustainability.

The event invited panellists to discuss the ability of universities to meaningfully contribute to delivery of the Goals.

Students have a huge role to play in calling on global leaders to address the climate emergency and the ecological crises. Therefore universities must provide students with a space that allows them to be the change makers within their civic societies and global communities.

Read the full report: City, University of London - UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development Report 2020.