Our submission ‘Sustainability at UQ‘ calls for the University to take an active and systemic approach to climate change and sustainability, and sets out ideas for a co-ordinated ‘Sustainability Plan’ that would integrate sustainability into UQ’s research, operations, teaching and outreach activities.
The submission was endorsed by 13 leading researchers, Heads of Schools, Institutes and Centres, and presented to the Vice Chancellor in June 2008, to the UQ community at a public forum in October 2008, and to UQ Senate in February 2009.
The VC and Senators welcomed the submission, and several of its key elements are now being realised – through the formation of the Sustainability Steering Committee, the Global Change Institute, and the Sustainability Fund. UQ also committed to signing the Taillories Declaration after a successful petition by UQ Climate for Change, which attracted 614 signatures, presented to the VC on 9 July 2009.
- UQ News (August 2009): UQ signs Talloires Declaration
- More about the Talloires Declaration
- The full submission is available here: (pdf)
- Slides from the Sustainable UQ Public Forum – held in May 2009 (pdf)
- Our Education for Sustainability Proposal for The University of Queensland (pdf)
Key elements of our submission:
– Sustainable operations
strong, time-bound targets to reduce UQ’s environmental footprint and chart our transition to sustainability
– Sustainability Mapping project
to generate a comprehensive picture of what is currently happening in research, teaching and operations, and to look at it from a systems perspective to see how it could be linked or extended across the university; to identify gaps and opportunities; and to develop an internet portal to organise this information and make it visible and accessible
– Sustainability Institute
To build from the mapping project, as a key linking body to facilitate research networks, curriculum development and collaborative projects.
– Standing Committee on sustainability,
a high-level decision-making body, that would oversee several working groups
– Sustainability Fund
Dedicated to sustainability initiatives, sustained in part by cost reductions / energy savings arising from projects, would help to leverage other sources of funding including alumni contributions to the fund itself, and state/federal funding for projects.
Education for Sustainability
In May 2010, UQ Climate for Change submitted a proposal which offered ideas for discussion within the Sustainability Steering Committee (SSC) on how sustainability can be integrated into teaching and learning at UQ, in fulfilment of commitments made in signing the Talloires Declaration.
As of April 2012, we understand that the in Education Steering Committee is still active, but are unclear of what specific activities they plan to undertake. We will continue to seek commitment from UQ to integrate sustainability into education.
