With the new webinar series "CA Exchange" we highlight great activities in our network and foster interaction and exchange between colleagues from different member institutions and beyond. On 26 November 2024, colleagues from the project "ATTUNE – Activate the University for Climate Change" presented project outcomes and outlined how universities can use these to address climate change at their universities.
Universities face specific challenges when it comes to addressing climate change. They fulfil various tasks related to education and research and involve a wide range of actors, including staff, students and societal stakeholders. Most universities have set ambitious goals, but many struggle to take effective action or are only at the beginning of a long journey towards becoming more sustainable.
The project "ATTUNE – Activate the University for Climate Change" has addressed this challenge. Project partners from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Turkey have developed a validated methodology that directly addresses climate change on the university campus and promotes as well as encourages action by all members of the university community.
During 60 minutes, Carlos Oppe (Global Action Plan), Estibaliz Saez de Camara and Nekane Castillo (both University of the Basque Country) presented different tools, which are adaptable and specifically designed to support universities and other institutions in implementing sustainability strategies.
The programme is now available for any European university to implement; this happens in two phases: In the first phase, students and staff individually reflect on their lifestyle and individual impact, thus creating a certain level of awareness for the topic. For this purpose, a website including questionnaires an other materials is available in multiple languages. In the second phase, mixed teams of students and staff are formed, often in collaboration with existing sustainability offices. They act and advocate to improve the university's community and environment through sustainable actions.
If you want to learn more about the ATTUNE project and address climate change at your university, get in touch with their team – more information is availabe on the project website: "ATTUNE – Activate the University for Climate Change".
