Climate change is arguably the most urgent issue of our time, with enormous ramifications for future generations.
UNSW will continue our trajectory as a leader in responses to climate change and impact mitigation from increasing natural disasters. We will enhance our expertise in climate science, environmental sustainability, disaster response and resilience, and many other related disciplines across all our faculties to influence policy and create innovative solutions with real-world impact.
We will collaborate across all disciplines, faculties, sectors and borders to optimise the impact of our teaching, research and thought leadership to help create a liveable world for generations to come. We will lead by example in working to be a climate-resilient, nature-positive and net zero emissions University.
We will be a leader in our contribution to the Societal Impact Goals:
- Achieve net zero emissions by 2050.2
- Restore 30% of ecosystems in areas of particular importance for biodiversity to improve planetary health.
- Reduce waste generation by 30% through prevention, recycling and reuse.
2 The Impact Focus Areas are accompanied by Societal Impact Goals. These goals are informed by local and global targets from reports and frameworks including the SDGs, the National Prevention Health Strategy and Australian Universities Accord. Full details and references for each of the Societal Impact Goals included in the Strategy can be found here.
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Objectives
1. Scale our contributions to addressing climate change and sustainability challenges, by:
- designing and developing new climate transition technologies and solutions
- taking a mission-oriented approach to climate transition and creating an inclusive process and space for collaboration that will drive our societal impact and thought leadership
- engaging strategically with our diverse stakeholders, especially for increasing climate resilience and adaptability.
2. Harness UNSW’s expertise in climate risk, solar, water, energy transition sustainable business operating approaches and ecosystem restoration to shape industry and governmental policy for impact, by:
- connecting, expanding and leveraging our local, regional and international networks, partnerships and alliances
- working collaboratively with industry and governments to understand problems, pressure points and define projects
- developing innovative business models with our partners.
3. Establish frameworks for transdisciplinary research and education, by:
- bringing diverse teams together in creative ‘sandbox’ environments to foster innovation and creative problem-solving
- supporting more effective translation of novel ideas to address complex sustainability challenges.
4. Be an exemplar climate-resilient, nature-positive, net zero emissions university that empowers our community, by:
- adopting a ‘Country-centred’ approach that reflects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design principles, restores nature, improves resource efficiency and builds climate resilience
- supporting and incentivising our people to contribute to this goal by learning and adopting sustainable behaviours
- ensuring our students across the University are equipped with the knowledge they need to support a sustainable world regardless of where their careers take them.
Flagship initiatives
On a Mission to drive climate transition at scale
Through our UNSW Mission: Climate Transition, we will collaborate with industry partners to scale our impact in fields including environmental and climate science, renewable energy, decarbonisation, hydrology, mineral resources, urbanisation and behavioural science. This mission will capture the diversity of UNSW’s existing climate transition work and drive innovation that leads to vital real-world impact such as accelerating emissions reduction and improving access to clean water.Ìý
Leading by example: UNSW Climate Transition Plan
To realise our ambition to be one of Australia’s most sustainable universities, our campuses will be ‘living labs’ where we apply our expertise in sustainable practice. We will implement a UNSW Climate Transition Plan featuring a Net Zero Emissions Roadmap, a Nature Positive Roadmap and a Climate Resilience Plan. We will work closely with Indigenous knowledge holders and campus neighbours, including exploring a Kensington Net Zero Precinct Strategy.Ìý
Get in touch
Our Strategy was designed by our UNSW community, for our UNSW community so we want everyone to get involved. Please get in touch to discuss the Strategy or ask any questions.