Universities are pioneering new environmental sustainability projects by applying and adapting them within the community. These institutions have a significant influence on shaping young minds and driving research to address the pressing environmental challenges around their campus. The yearning to learn and change the world drives students to take initiative in various projects that range from renewable energy integrations and waste reduction strategies to biodiversity conservation efforts and sustainable transportation systems. The uniqueness of universities working to fight climate change is that they are able to bring together expertise from various fields, including environmental science, engineering, economics, policy studies, agriculture, and social sciences, to foster collaboration and drive among students, faculty, and staff.
In 2022, Western Sydney University received the title of the most sustainable university in the world. The Times Higher Education (THE) sets seventeen different goals in sustainable development goals (SDG) that universities can focus on. THE found that this institution, Western Sydney University, was ranked first in clean water and sanitation, second in responsible consumption and production, third in gender equality, fourth in reduced inequalities, and fifth in partnership goals. The president of the university, Barney Glover, stated, “We are passionately proud of our work to drive important social change and transformation with and for our local communities, as well as our role to help produce the next generation of innovators, thought leaders and civic-minded citizens.”
Arizona State University came in second place by ranking first in the world in three SDG categories: sustainable cities and communities, life below water, and life on land. The institution partnered with and initiated various sustainability measures. One of their more recent projects involved converting the Palm Court area of Orange Mall into a Green Infrastructure Project by renovating and expanding a strip of pedestrian walkway into an eco-friendly mall. During the process of transforming the mall, the university had to consider the “heavy pedestrian, flooding with minor rainstorms, unshaded asphalt surface that could reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit, shallow utility chases, and the need to accommodate a 25-foot fire land, as well as loading dock with vehicle access.” By involving students, faculty, and staff, they were able to convert this strip into a beautiful mall used by students and local community members.
Garth Woodruff is the director of the agricultural program at Andrews. He states that one of the projects that their department participates in involves quails. They established a quail habitat on the edge of campus a few years ago, waited for it to mature from the corn field, and then released the quail last year. Unfortunately, all of the quail are gone from the region due to farming and habitat removal.
Some of the things that Andrews University may be able to implement to improve sustainability include recycling more often, encouraging gardening projects and biodiversity, and establishing renewable energy in various places around the university. Recycling paper, wood, plastic, metals, and glass material allows us to reuse the material and to use less raw materials from nature to conserve what we already have. Establishing and encouraging gardening projects with students fosters a connection between community and nature that may not typically occur inside the classroom. There are life lessons that we are unable to read about that can be better experienced by connecting to nature with our peers. We can use our energy more efficiently by installing automatic motion sensors to switch off lights in buildings. Since Andrews has several large buildings, they could install solar panels on the rooftops of their buildings to have a natural renewable source of energy.
Andrews University stands as a beacon of innovation and collaboration, harnessing the collective expertise of diverse disciplines to address pressing global challenges. Moving forward, Andrews University should take initiative in more sustainability and renewable projects to nurture the culture surrounding Andrews and to empower the next generation of changemakers by creating resilience and a harmonious world.
Update:
On Thursday evening, February 29, 2024, the Office of the President of Andrews University released a statement to the university student body announcing the formation of a new council, established to “generate ideas that we will seek to implement, such as ways to switch to renewable resources, to make our campus more energy efficient, to reduce our waste and promote conservation, and to enhance the biodiversity of our campus.”
Consider joining President Taylor’s new initiative of environmental stewardship through the Creation Care Council (CCC)! Email him via president@andrews.edu or send him feedback through this link.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.