The SDGs go to School

With the federal government dis-engaged from international efforts to address climate change (and indeed, taking concerted steps to INCREASE the climate threat by rolling back regulatory constraints !), local institutions are stepping up to do what they can as good global citizens.  The latest contribution is from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh.  Not only has CMU worked closely with the city of Pittsburgh to establish a local government framework around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but now, the University itself has released the first ever University-focused Voluntary University Review of its own efforts to meet the SDGs.

In July 2020, Ambassador and CMU Professor Sarah Mendelson presented on the VUR process to a group of Canadian universities.  Her how-to talk, encouraging others to take similar steps on campus, is available on video here.

There are more than 5300 colleges and universities in the United States, collectively with a significant footprint in terms of land use, food and energy consumption, transportation, and other sustainability challenges.  But is CMU alone?  Have other universities embraced the SDGs?  Has yours?