The University’s Senior Management Group has agreed to endorse the Sustainability Development Goals Accord in an important extension to its existing sustainability strategy.

The SDG Accord is the University and College sector’s collective response to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals which contain a set of 17 Global Goals.

The purpose of the SDG Accord is twofold:

  • to inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the SDGs and the value it brings to governments, business and wider society;
  • to commit learning institutions to do more to deliver the goals, to report annually on each signatory's progress, and to do so in ways which share the learning with each other both nationally and internationally. An objective is that sector SDG reporting metrics will be presented at the annual UN High Level Political Forum.

SMG has also agreed to set up a new Sustainability Working Group, co-chaired by Professor Dan Haydon, Director of the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, and Dr David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer of the University.

Dr Duncan said: “The Sustainable Development Goals cover a very broad range of social and environmental aspirations, but they fit well with the ethos and value of the University. They also resonate with a wide range of academic activities across both teaching and research.”

Professor Haydon added: “Signing up to the Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges Sustainable Development Goals Accord is welcome recognition of the importance of embedding the Sustainable Development Goals into our education, research, leadership, operations, administration and engagement activities. While we have made progress in this direction, there is evidently a great deal more that we should and must do, and I look forward to working closely with the University administration in realising these goals.”

The Students’ Representative Council has also endorsed the move, with SRC President Kate Powell adding: “The SRC is happy that the University will be playing a more active role in environmental sustainability. Our Environmental Officer will be working closely with David and Dan to implement the Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan.”

First published: 9 October 2017

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