Our commitment to sustainability

Across our network, all our members care deeply about a future that is safer and more sustainable for everyone. A defining characteristic of U21 members is a commitment to strengthening our positive impact in the world, both individually and collectively. 

Universities play a crucial role across local, regional and international boundaries in creating ideas, fostering innovation, exchanging knowledge, functioning as anchor institutions, and collaborating with businesses, organisations and governments to advance knowledge and seek solutions to current and future sustainability challenges.

U21 focus on supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals

With Executive Committee agreement U21 is focusing on two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, numbers four and seventeen in particular:

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

In working towards delivering these goals, U21 has:

Launched RISE for our student members

RISE (Real Impact on Society and Environment) our international showcase of student achievement in sustainability and social innovation was designed in response to this. It aims to accelerate the scale and impact of student-led projects by connecting them with a network of experts in academia and industry.

Became a signatory to the CANIE Accord

By signing the CANIE Accord, we reaffirm our mission to empower the next generation of leaders and commitment to strengthening our positive impact in the world, through individual and collective action.

The Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) is a volunteer grassroots initiative formed by international education practitioners from around the world who see the need and opportunity for the sector to take bold climate action. Through open-access resources, specialised events, networking and information sharing, CANIE aims to mobilise the full power of the international education community to address our contribution to the climate crisis. 

‘’I applaud U21 for showing such leadership in our sector’s transition to more climate-conscious operations,” said CANIE President of the Board, Ainslie Moore. “By signing up to the CANIE Accord, international education leaders commit to real, practical action to combat global temperature rise and, crucially, to doing so in a way that is grounded in social justice.’’