Higher Education Institutions In A Global Warming World The Transition Of Higher Education Institutions To A Low Carbon Economy

Higher Education Institutions in a Global Warming Worldaims to contribute to the global debate on Sustainability in Higher Education, and in particular to the transition of Higher Education Institutions to a Low Carbon Economy.The transition of Higher Education Institutions towards a Low Carbon Economy is aligned with the Paris Agreement, and with Sustainable Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. It is also consistent with the European Commission ́s Climate strategies and targets and with the aims of the European Climate Change Program.Transitioning to a low carbon economy represents one of the most significant and urgent challenges we are facing, and Universities have a critical role to play in fostering a low carbon future, especially by developing innovative solutions.

Higher Education Institutions in a Global Warming World aims to contribute to the global debate on Sustainability in Higher Education, and in particular to the transition of Higher Education Institutions to a Low Carbon Economy. The transition of Higher Education Institutions towards a Low Carbon Economy is aligned with the Paris Agreement, and with Sustainable Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. It is also consistent with the European Commission´s Climate strategies and targets and with the aims of the European Climate Change Program. Transitioning to a low carbon economy represents one of the most significant and urgent challenges we are facing, and Universities have a critical role to play in fostering a low carbon future, especially by developing innovative solutions. This book intends to be a contribution to this discussion about Sustainability in Higher Education, namely the transition of Higher Education Institutions to a Low Carbon Economy.

This book fills an important gap in the literature, and presents contributions from scientists and researchers working in the field of sustainable development who have engaged in dynamic approaches to implementing sustainability in higher education. It is widely known that universities are key players in terms of the implementation and further development of sustainability, with some having the potential of acting as “living labs” in this rapidly growing field. Yet there are virtually no publications that explore the living labs concept as it relates to sustainability, and in an integrated manner. The aims of this book, which is an outcome of the “4th World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities” (WSSD-U-2018), held in Malaysia in 2018, are as follows: i. to document the experiences of universities from all around the world in curriculum innovation, research, activities and practical projects as they relate to sustainable development at the university level; ii. to disseminate information, ideas and experiences acquired in the execution of projects, including successful initiatives and good practice; iii. to introduce and discuss methodological approaches and projects that seek to integrate the topic of sustainable development in the curricula of universities; and iv. to promote the scalability of existing and future models from universities as living labs for sustainable development. The papers are innovative, cross-cutting and many reflect practice-based experiences, some of which may be replicable elsewhere. Also, this book, prepared by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the World Sustainable Development Research and Transfer Centre (WSD-RTC), reinforces the role played by universities as living labs for sustainable development.

This book presents the efforts that different educational institutions, with particular emphasis on higher education institutions, have been developing in order to contribute to a type of teaching that enhances sustainability. It also helps to understand the role that these organizations are playing in order to foster sustainability in their governance, teaching methods, and social life inside and outside the campus. Focusing specifically on the issue of sustainability in higher education in Portugal, the chapters of this book are written by Portuguese researchers and university professors and members of different Portuguese higher education institutions. The content reflects not only on the strategies, policies and procedures that have been developed in Portuguese higher education institutions in terms of sustainability, but also on the research that has been carried out in these same institutions. Among others, this book highlights The Portuguese Sustainable Campus Network, the cultural and sustainability transformation, challenges and changes in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions, the motivation and the well-being of University students in terms of sustainability, and the Sustainable Development Goals in higher education in Portugal.

Climate change is a matter of global concern and specific sectors of society such as universities need to engage and be active in the search for regional and local solutions for what is a global problem. Despite the fact that many universities all around the world are undertaking remarkable efforts in tackling the challenges posed by climate change, few of such works are widely documented and disseminated. The book "Universities and Climate Change" addresses this gap. The book pursues three aims. Firstly, it presents a review of the approaches and methods to inform, communicate and educate university students and the public on climate change being used by universities around the world. Secondly, it introduces initiatives, projects and communication strategies undertaken by universities with a view to informing students and other stakeholders in order to raise awareness on matters related to climate change. Finally, the book documents, promotes and disseminates some of the on-going initiatives.

This book provides a two-level analytical framework and empirical study to analyze the reason and process of China’s transition that is from a follower to driver in the field of global climate governance, and is especially valuable the dialogues and cooperation between the government, media and civil society. Nowadays, China shows strong leadership to push the process of global climate governance. It’s the first and fastest time in the past 40-year history of China’s Opening-up that China wins the international respect and trust in one of the issues of global governance. What experiences can be summarized? What dynamic situations and new possibilities emerged after Trump, the U.S. president announced to withdraw from the Paris Agreement? How to move forward based on the existing success? This timely book offers new lens for international readers to understand China’s effort domestically and internationally in the field of climate change and illustrate the outlook of the climate governance in the frame of win-win co-governance model.

This publication explores a range of helpful policy measures and institutional reforms to mobilise higher education for the development of the State of Victoria.

This volume brings together both theoretical and case study based contributions to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), presenting an impactful combination of authors from both developing and developed countries. While most current publications addressing the SDGs and education focus on sustainable development in general and specific topics such as climate change or energy, this book attempts to accelerate the localisation of the SDGs by presenting opportunities and innovations offered in various universities and campuses regarding SDGs localisation. The book seeks to provide an important contribution to the global dialogue on IHE and the SDGs, and will be of interest to academics and researchers engaged in the SDGs and education, as well as government agencies and other interested stakeholders. The book focuses on curriculum and learning matters, research and development as well as community engagement. Case studies detail the integration of SDGs in academic and professional development, new approaches to implementing sustainability science instruction, improvements in teaching practices to enhance teacher competence, and responsible management education. Additional focus is placed on the alignment of the SDGs in higher education with the other goals, emphasizing technological innovation for improved human health and environmental management, and climate change policies and action plans. Interdisciplinary solutions for pressing environmental problems are also provided, making sure that no one is left behind in realising these global development goals.