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Seminar reinforces international green treaty

June 14, 2005

Thumbs.jpgAn international declaration committing The University of New England to a greener, cleaner environment has been signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ingrid Moses.
The university has signed the Talloires Declaration, which commits universities around the globe to work towards an environmentally sustainable future.
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Rich, will chair a seminar on the declaration and ways UNE can contribute to its environmental aims on Wednesday, June 15.
“The Declaration contains a series of ten recommendations whereby university institutions, Vice-Chancellors take action to focus university attention on environmental issues and good environmental practice,” Professor Rich said.
“We seek sustainability ideas relating to operational, curriculum and research matters and look forward to vibrant discussion at the seminar. This seminar will also consider the operational framework to be put into place in implementing the Declaration.”
The Talloires Declaration was the result of a 1990 gathering at Talloires, France, at which the Presidents/Vice-Chancellors of 22 universities around the globe met to consider what educational institutions could do to improve environmental performance.
Since then, more than 280 universities have signed the international environmental agreement, including eight other Australian universities.
UNE has already shown initiatives in ensuring the campus is environmentally sustainable, with its Environment and Sustainability policy approved by Professor Moses in December last year.

Under the policy, UNE committed students and staff to adopting a range of sustainable practices, such as recycling and photocopying on both sides of paper.
Signing the Talloires Declaration takes the University’s commitment to a sustainable environment one step further, Professor Rich said.
The Declaration aims to educate professionals and other university graduates in being environmentally responsible and to incorporate an awareness of sustainability issues into their academic programs. It also urges universities to be at the vanguard of environmental research and assist developing countries find new technology and skills for a sustainable future.
For more information phone Prue Bedford on 6773 3246 or
Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779

Posted by Lydia Roberts at June 14, 2005 10:13 AM