Ten University of Wollongong students are walking the walk when it comes to action on climate change.
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They were spurred to act decisively earlier this month after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its damning report on the state of the Earth's climate, emphasising the need for urgent global and local action.
Next week the students will make a submission to the United Nation's 16th Conference of Youths on Climate Change (COY16).
This conference is the precursor to the much-anticipated 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) that is set to bring together global leaders to address human-induced climate change.
The group's submission includes five climate commitments endorsed by UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson, who stated that she "will ensure that UOW shows leadership in addressing the urgent impact of climate change".
The five climate endorsements are:
- Working towards carbon neutrality by 2030
- Supporting sustainable transport solutions including active and public transport to and from the university
- Improving energy management and a renewable power purchasing agreement
- Cultivating research excellence in climate and sustainability space
- Educating and working with the local community on climate change and sustainability
This statement is a significant step forward in the University's commitment to climate action, and it is important to recognise both the dedicated students and University staff that were able to make it happen.
- Benjamin Hamill and Grace Mahon
Benjamin Hamill, an executive of the Student Advisory Council at UOW and the Chair of the COY16 Project and Grace Mahon, a management cadet at UOW and the Executive Officer of the project, are deeply passionate about climate action.
"This statement is a significant step forward in the University's commitment to climate action, and it is important to recognise both the dedicated students and University staff that were able to make it happen.
"We look forward to seeing the commitments actioned on, and we are hopeful about the University's future," the duo said.
As part of their submission, extensive research, benchmarking with other universities and institutions, and consultation with students, university staff members and community environmental groups occurred.
This outreach culminated in a climate change statement that sets out institutional commitments for UOW and a series of demands for local, national and global decision makers.
These commitments look to form the foundation for a robust climate strategy at UOW which solidifies its place as a leading global university.
The project also saw the students make extensive demands towards individuals, institutions, local governments, the federal government, and global decision-makers.
Noting the implications of the IPCC report, their most poignant demand was for a structured federal response to climate change through a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target.
"We are very happy with what we've come up with," Hamill said.
The student's statement will be presented as a part of COY's statement to the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties in Glasgow running October 31 to November 12.
In the meantime the students are looking for 2500 signatures to support their statement.
To do so please visit https://www.change.org/UOWCOY16ClimateStatement.
Visit : https://www.uow.edu.au/student/youth-climate-change-project/ to read the statement in full.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
