By 2050, the world's population could reach a whopping 10 billion people. The more people, the greater the consumption of food, fashion, travel and related aspirations. Two to three billion of them are the youth living in cities. We can make a difference in a resource-poor world facing the threats of global climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution including through strengthening the resilience of our universities.
Universities are catalysts for social and political action as well as centers of learning.
The continued growth of higher education in both developed and developing countries has led to many competing priorities, one of which is sustainability. The most successful environmental initiatives at universities are those that respond to changing priorities and take advantage of the opportunities that growth and development can create. While there are successful examples of university sustainability around the world, their replication in as many universities as possible around the world should be encouraged to maximize their benefits.
Recognizing this, more and more universities are looking to join SLUN.
Currently, 28 universities in Central Asia and South Caucasus are members of the Network, which is a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices, creating joint projects and developing innovative solutions for integrating sustainable development into the foundation of university life.
