University and Students' Association sign Sustainable Development Goals Accord
The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh University Students' Association have signed the Sustainable Development Goals Accord. This reaffirms the University's commitment to make a significant, sustainable and socially responsible contribution to Scotland, the UK and the world.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were adopted by the United Nations and world leaders in 2015. Over the next fifteen years, these will universally apply to all, countries will mobilise efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
Through its research, learning and teaching, operations and community of staff, students and alumni, the University is committed to delivering these Goals with partners, including the Students' Association, both locally and globally.
The purpose of the Accord is to inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals and the value it brings to governments, business and wider society.
Secondly, the Accord is a commitment learning institutions are making to one another to do more to deliver the goals, to annually report on each signatory's progress, and to do so in ways which share the learning with each other both nationally and internationally.
Students have always passionately shown sustainability to be a priority. The Students' Association is proud of our green achievements so far, but we know that we can do more. Signing up to these wide ranging goals will hold us to a higher standard across our operations, be it procurement, food waste, or treating all our members with equality. Signing up is a great first step, but we will be holding regular check-ups with our students, to make sure we take the goals to heart and make change.