University of Coimbra adopts European sustainability declaration and reaffirms commitment to sustainable development

The University of Coimbra (UC) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and climate action by signing the Durham Declaration on the Collaboration of Coimbra Group Universities on Climate Change and Sustainability on the 26th of March, during the Coimbra Group Climate Symposium held this week in Durham, UK.

Representatives from the 39 universities of the Coimbra Group signed the declaration, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening and improving sustainability strategies through seven principles and 12 initiatives that highlight the pivotal role of universities as agents of chang, thus hoping that this commitment will inspire new ways of engaging the student community in climate action and in building a more sustainable future.

Some of the principles in this document recognise that universities are agents of change, with the opportunity each year to raise awareness within their academic community of the challenges and the need for action towards environmental and social sustainability; Support and collaborate with public and private organisations to enhance knowledge transfer on climate change and create synergies; Commitment, as agents of change, to lead by example through responsible and sustainable initiatives on their campuses; Recognising the need to strengthen collaborative efforts and synergies between universities and partners to achieve new outcomes and initiatives addressing sustainability challenges.

The declaration also lists 12 initiatives that the Coimbra Group intends to implement, namely: ‘Sharing the benefits and impacts of our research on understanding climate change as a societal challenge through Coimbra Group organised events.; Supporting and promoting cooperation among members and across Working Groups and partners to secure research funding related to the climate emergency; Promoting climate education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals within our universities and with regional, national and European stakeholders; Developing policies that support our ambitions to protect, enhance and sustain buildings and infrastructure, the academic heritage and collections, as well as biodiversity within our campus settings; Advancing solutions to promote the sustainable mobility of university communities; Supporting expansion of student cooperation both within and among institutions to promote initiatives around climate change and a sustainability; Sharing best practice on how our EU universities meet the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.’

“The University of Coimbra strongly commits to adopting this declaration, which will guide the actions that the universities of the Coimbra Group aim to continue undertaking in their education, research and innovation activities towards sustainability and reducing the impact of climate change. Sustainability is a central pillar for the University of Coimbra, and this document represents an opportunity to strengthen joint efforts at the European level, allowing us to have a significant impact both in academic communities and in society," says the Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão.

The Coimbra Group was founded in 1985 and currently includes 39 universities from 22 European countries. UC is a founding member of this network, which for 40 years has sought to create synergies to promote internationalisation, academic collaboration, excellence in teaching and research, and service to society. Through its many activities and publications, the network also aims to contribute actively to education and research policies in Europe by sharing best practices resulting from the collaborative work of its 39 members.

The University of Coimbra also participated in the symposium's panel "Universities as Investors". Patrícia Pereira da Silva, UC's Vice-Rector for Planning, Sustainability and Quality, attended the session and spoke about how universities are investing in the protection of the climate, nature and society.

During her address, the Vice-Rector presented UC's key investments, highlighting the integration of these issues into education and research, as well as the increasing investment in renewable energy and biodiversity conservation initiatives. She also discussed future projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the UC Strategic Plan 2023-2027.