Even if you look at the newswire even occasionally, you probably know about the problem of global climate change facing our planet. We’re talking about the shocking levels of plastic pollution in water and the alarming rate of temperature increase. Extreme climatic events are becoming more and more regular, and water levels in the world’s oceans are invariably rising. So how can we combat all of this?
The experts of domypaper.me service will tell you about the foreign universities that are making a really important contribution to combatting climate change. If sustainability is also important to you, we invite you to learn about the climate change measures being taken by some of the world’s most advanced institutions.
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Holland
Wageningen University and Research Center has been ranked number 1 for two years in a row among the world’s green universities. It is a university with an excellent sustainability record, and is dedicated to recycling and water purification on its own. WUR implements various projects in the field of energy, waste recycling and mobility, the aim of which is to reduce the impact on the climate.
The university measures its carbon footprint annually and, according to the latest data, from 2010 to 2018, the university cut its total emissions in half. And, the university generates its own renewable energy through windmills, solar panels, and other methods. Last year, 100% of the energy used on campus was generated using sustainable methods.
University of Nottingham, UK
The University of Nottingham is another renowned green university that actively promotes sustainability in British society. Recently, scientists at the university used drones to survey climbing woody plants and better understand how they can affect the carbon balance of rainforests.
The institution fosters its students’ interest in ecology in every way possible. For example, each month the campus holds a “Student Switch Off” competition between student residences. The residence whose students save the most energy and pay the most attention to recycling wins prizes and a supply of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
The campus also has a WasteNott campaign to reduce the use of single-use plastic, such as plastic cups. According to surveys, 94% of Nottingham University students are already willing to switch to reusable cups and mugs at all times. The university, for its part, is already replacing plastic beverage stubs with paper ones, and campus cafeterias are offering drink discounts to students who bring their own cups and mugs.
Shandong Normal University, China
The campus of Shandong Normal University is the first zero-emissions campus in China, meaning the campus does not emit any waste that pollutes the environment or affects the climate. In addition, the university is the greenest and most environmentally friendly educational institution in all of Asia.
Like the University of Nottingham, China’s Shandong Normal University has achieved great success in making its campus as environmentally friendly and energy-efficient as possible. For example, the university practices double-sided printing to reduce paper consumption and has done away with plastic bags and disposable cups. The university is also reducing its carbon footprint by using solar panels, motion-sensor lighting, and recycling, including recycling old clothes and books from students and staff.
University College Cork, Ireland
We have already mentioned that one of the major environmental problems of our time is the enormous amount of plastic waste. University College Cork has set a goal to combat this very problem. The university was the first in Ireland to open a plastic-free café. The cafe (in just 3 months of operation) reduced the use of single-use plastic items in the country by 20,000 units.
University College Cork is one of the top 10 green schools in the world and was also the first university in Europe to receive the Gold Star Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The award recognized the university’s achievements in reducing plastic waste, carbon emissions, and paper printing.
Colorado State University, USA
Colorado State University is widely recognized for its commitment to sustainability and has a “platinum rating” in the STARS system, which measures the level of sustainability in higher education institutions.
The university campus is equipped with a single-stream recycling system, which includes 26 LEED-certified buildings, electric vehicle charging points, and more. It’s important to note that sustainability plays an important role not only in the University’s campus facilities but also in the selection of academic programs. Colorado State University offers students hundreds of programs related in one way or another to sustainability and the environment.
How to apply to this university? As with any university application, it requires a strong academic record, letters of recommendation, and a well-written admission essay. If you are struggling to write your essay for the University of Colorado State’s sustainability program, consider reaching out to a professional writing service like Cheappaperwriting.com.
Université de Sherbrooke, Canada
The French-speaking University of Sherbrooke is Canada’s greenest university. The university has been committed to sustainability for more than 40 years, and the institution is currently following its own sustainability plan for 2018-2022.
In the rating of the greenest universities in the world, the university received the best marks for energy efficiency and climate change management. Among Sherbrooke University’s upcoming projects is the opening of a new solar park, which will be Canada’s largest center for applied research in solar energy generation and use. The university also embraces sustainability in its campus life. It recycles waste, uses environmentally friendly transportation, and takes many other measures to maintain the environment.
University of São Paulo, Brazil
The University of São Paulo in Brazil can be boldly called the most environmentally friendly educational institution in South America. The university was included in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking 2018 and received the highest scores in the “location and infrastructure” category. In this way, the ranking noted the numerous green spaces and vegetation on the university’s campus.
The university created a special position for a senior environmental steward to develop and implement various sustainability initiatives. Among such initiatives of the university is the USP Recicla program, in which the university is to become an example of conscious consumption and recycling.
