LIFE SCIENCES UNIVERSITIES
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE BIOECONOMIES
We, the Rectors, Deans and Senior Management of the Association for European Life Science Universities at our Forum focusing on the Role of Life Science Universities in Transitioning to Climate Neutrality held in Leuven, Belgium on 21 and 22 October 2021;
Recognising that university education, research and innovation are a vital pillar for transitioning to a sustainable bioeconomy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions;
Placing climate change and climate neutrality at the centre of our learning, research, our collaboration with societal partners, and in our campus operations;
Pledge to leaders at COP26:
1. We will enhance our understanding of climate change and transition pathways in our curricula and provide our students – the future professionals and decision makers - with all available understanding of the need, means and paths for society to move to climate neutrality,
2. We will enhance our research into understanding of and integral solutions for climate neutrality, designing concrete pathways towards sustainable bioeconomies,
3. We will seek active collaboration with the agrifood, biobased, marine, forestry and other economic and societal actors and sectors in our locations across Europe to help implement concrete products, technologies, activities and practices that severely reduce climate change impacts and advance net-zero greenhouse gas emissions systems, and
4. We will engage with our life science institutions and campuses in moving towards climate neutrality so that they become beacons of progress and exemplary for other research and teaching institutions.
Signed by 66 Attendees of the Rectors and Deans Forum
Download the full text COMMUNIQUÉ with the list of signatories
