The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) hosted the XXXIII Jornadas Crue-Sostenibilidad (web). This meeting aimed to deepen the policies, practices, and processes in favour of the climate neutrality of universities and cities.
In this forum, entitled "University and City towards climate neutrality", experts and Research Assistants from the UPV and other Spanish universities analysed the role of university innovation in the decarbonisation of cities.
Throughout presentations, round tables, and parallel working sessions, aspects such as the appropriate governance model to develop environmental issues or the benefits of the university-city council binomial as a driver of change were addressed, among others.
In this way, the participants analysed the main actions universities are currently undertaking to implement sustainability into all their activities, as well as the related research projects they are carrying out. Likewise, they reflected on new proposals and strategies to accelerate the ecological transition of cities and their commitment to the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
The Rector of the Universitat Politècnica de València, José E. Capilla, defended that universities should be "exemplary" in sustainability, both in their day-to-day application and management. In this regard, he referred to the UPV as "a clear example of sustainability, understood from an environmental, but also an economic and social point of view".
For her part, the Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development of UPV Campus, Débora Domingo, highlighted the opportunity to address this issue in depth at UPV within the current context. She added: "We must bear in mind that when we think about how to orient ourselves towards a great mission, such as the ecological transition and decarbonisation, it is essential to do so in both the small and large spheres. In this big constellation, every particle adds up."
The UPV hosted this meeting for the first time, which brought together more than 200 people from 76 Spanish universities grouped by Crue.
The XXXIII Crue-Sustainability Conference has been awarded the Carbon Neutral Event Certificate by the Lurgaia Fundazioa Foundation. This endorsement means that, after the event, the necessary number of native trees and bushes will be planted to offset the CO2 emissions generated by the event organisation. This action will take place in the Undabaso forest, in the Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai (Vizcaya).
At its conclusion, the Manifesto of the XXXIII Crue-Sustainability Conference "University and City: towards climate neutrality" was signed.
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