Appendix 8. Sustainability Resources for Universities

• Author: William R. Blackburn
• Pages: 751-777

Appendix 8

Sustainability Resources for Universities

Appendix 8.1. Organizations That Can Help Universities Pursue

Sustainability

List of Organizations Described in this Appendix 8.1

8.1.1 Global Higher Education for

Sustainability Partnership

(UNESCO, ULSF, IAU, and

COPERNICUS)

8.1.2 U.S. Partnership for the Decade

of Education for Sustainable

Development (NCSE and ULSF)

8.1.3 National Wildlife Federation’s

Campus Ecology® Group

8.1.4 U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency

8.1.5 International Institute for

Sustainable Development

8.1.6 Tertiary Education Facilities

Management Association

8.1.7 oikos International

8.1.8 Sierra Youth Coalition

8.1.9 Dutch CDHO

8.1.10 Baltic University Programme

8.1.11 Technical University of

Hamburg Consortium

8.1.12 Alliance for Global

Sustainability

8.1.13 U.K. Higher Education

Partnership for Sustainability

8.1.14 Philippines PATLEPAM

8.1.15 Social Enterprise Knowledge

Network

8.1.16 New Jersey Higher Education

Partnership for Sustainability

8.1.17 Pennsylvania Consortium for

Interdisciplinary Environmental

Policy

8.1.18 Campus Consortium for

Environmental Excellence

8.1.19 Associated Colleges of the

South Environmental Initiative

8.1.20 South Carolina Sustainable

Universities Initiative

8.1.21 Net Impact

8.1.1 Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership

(UNESCO, ULSF, IAU, and COPERNICUS)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO)1is the task manager for implementing Chapter 36 of Agenda

212—the chapter on education found in this action plan emerging from

the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. The organization launched Educating for

a Sustainable Future in 1994 to follow up on the recommendations con-

cerning education that came from major U.N. conferences and conven-

tions on various sustainability topics in the 1990s. In 2002, UNESCO

was designated as the lead agency for the promotion of the Decade of Ed-

ucation for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), a program adopted

751

by the U.N. General Assembly to encourage national and international

efforts on this matter.3One part of UNESCO’s strategy for the program

has been to join forces with three university coalitions to form the Global

Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership (GHESP). The member

coalitions include the U.S.-based Association of University Leaders for a

Sustainable Future (ULSF) (see Appendix 8.1.2), the UNESCO-based

International Association of Universities (IAU), and COPERNICUS

Campus (the Cooperation Program in Europe for Research on Nature and

Industry through Coordinated University Studies—see Appendix 8.2.4).

All have been quite visible in furthering the sustainability agenda among

their 1000-plus university members. Together the GHESP partners are

developing strategies, tools, and resources, including an online resource

center, to aid in building collegiate sustainability programs.4

8.1.2 U.S. Partnership for the Decade of Education for Sustainable

Development (NCSE and ULSF)

ULSF has also joined with the National Council for Science and Envi-

ronment (NCSE) and others to form the U.S. Partnership for the Decade

of Education for Sustainable Development (USPDESD), which will de-

velop a multi-stakeholder action plan for implementing the program in

the United States.5ULSF,with a membership of over 70 universities and

colleges, has been a leader in its own right. In addition to offering sustain-

ability workshops, case studies, and self-assessment tools, it consults di-

rectly with academic institutions on a variety of sustainability issues re-

lated to operations, curricula, faculty development, and research. Its

website provides links to information on over 115 campus programs.

8.1.3 National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology® Group

The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF’s) Campus Ecology® group

maintains best practices and other useful information about collegiate

environmental sustainability programs on its website. The group also

publishes a newsletter,provides speakers, and presents annual awards.6

8.1.4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

A National Colleges and Universities Sector within the U.S. Environ-

mental Protection Agency (EPA) works with six college and university

national organizations to develop tools and approaches for advancing the

752 THE SUSTAINABILITY HANDBOOK