Global University Climate Forum 2015
“Think global, act local”
The 2015 Global University Climate Forum took place during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris on 5 December 2015, hosted by Sorbonne Universités.
Sponsored by the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) with additional support from the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), the Global University Climate Forum is a network of student teams from universities around the world who collaborate on initiatives that promote sustainability at their home institutions.
The Forum embodies the saying “Think global, act local” by focusing on tangible, campus-based solutions that ultimately impact the dissemination of student awareness and global environmental consciousness.
100 students from over 30 universities from across the world gathered in Paris, the workshop was a unique opportunity to share and learn about brilliant projects for sustainability on campus.
Students' project ideas span disciplines and methods: from app-based systems over reduced food waste in campus canteens to behavior-changing campaigns and retrofitting plans. Continuing with innovative financial solutions for greening students' and universities' investments before moving on to experiencing a sustainable lifestyle during 3 weeks.
The projects were reviewed by peers and commentators including: Professor Daniel Kammen from University of California Berkeley, Maria Ivanova from the Center for Governance and Sustainability at UMass Boston and Zena Harris from the International Sustainable Campus Network.
Watch the videos (interviews of student from IARU universities 1, 2, 3, 4) made by Association Sorbonne Université.
After the workshop, work will continue on campus while the network will move online and keep in touch for the sake of addressing climate change.