Source:
THE Events
Climate change affects us all, but it is at local and regional levels where positive actions take hold, creating examples that could be exported at scale and adopted by others
Sustainability and decarbonisation targets help to steer policy, but they will remain out of reach if societies are unable to change their behaviours and take positive action on the ground. Strategies for more sustainable living need to be translated into cultural norms. At a panel discussion, held in partnership with Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury in New Zealand, at the 2024 THE Global Sustainable Development Congress, industry leaders shared lessons from innovations in local and regional settings and how they might drive global change.
The perspective from the University of Canterbury was clear: sustainability begins on campus. Jan Evans-Freeman, Canterbury’s pro vice-chancellor for sustainability, said that the university cut emissions by 50 per cent by phasing out coal in favour of biomass. It leads by example, too, by running bike rental and maintenance schemes and using electronic vehicles. Furthermore, it supports policymakers with research insights and strategic partnerships.
“We directly involve our students and staff in partnerships with the city council,” Evans-Freeman said. “Nothing illustrated that more than a very recent event we had, a sustainability showcase shared between us and the city council. The talks involved two speakers. The first was a researcher explaining how their research could be used for a more sustainable way of living in cities. The city council provided a speaker explaining how they had taken the university research and implemented it.”
New Zealand currently receives 90 per cent of its energy from renewable sources. Sustainable innovations can take root in developing countries, which face more challenges of economic and demographic growth. By 2030, India will have 60 cities with populations in excess of a million people, and yet policy interventions – revising building codes and mandating sustainable end-user products – are having a dramatic effect.
Joyashree Roy, professor and director of the SMARTS Center, Asian Institute of Technology, said: “Our estimates show that the countries that are growing have the advantage of producing the same service level in terms of GDP – with five times less energy. Energy efficiency has become a very good market-driven business model.”
Roy estimated that between 40 and 70 per cent of emissions could be reduced by demand-side solutions, which dramatically reduce the burden to decarbonise from supply-side solutions. She said industry’s role had been crucial in driving change but all of society’s stakeholders must play their part. Universities could advise industry on more sustainable practices and individuals should also take ownership by understanding their own carbon footprints.
The University of Canterbury’s research collaboration with the bicycle and scooter hire company Lime has demonstrated how supplying low-income communities with e-bikes presented a viable micromobility solution for carbon-neutral transport and economic regeneration. Simon Kingham, professor of geography in the School of Earth and Environment at the university, said he witnessed transformative results for the community. “We are getting great benefits,” he said, which is testimony to how climate action can have a big impact in local contexts.
The panel:
- Brett Berquist, assistant vice-chancellor for engagement, University of Canterbury
- Liam Carroll, operations manager, Lime
- Jan Evans-Freeman, pro vice-chancellor for sustainability, University of Canterbury
- Simon Kingham, professor of geography, School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury
- Joyashree Roy, director of the SMARTS Center, Asian Institute of Technology
Find out more about the University of Canterbury.
