Partnerships
AIUB has given highest priority to reach the target and goals set in SDGs. As a pioneering private university, AIUB is playing a leading role to design and implement different policies needed for SDGs. Among those, Climate Action Plan is one of the areas where the management of the university is giving effort to meet certain standards.
AIUB has set an ambitious but realistic Climate Action Plan strategy that places a most green campus and provides the greatest opportunity of sustainable development. To address the issue, almost a decade back the Board of Trustees addressed the University to create a Climate Action Plan (CAP), hence, AIUB convened a Climate Action Task Forced (CATF) comprised of faculty members, staffs, and students to consider a wide variety of options, communicate broadly with the University community, and bring recommendations forward. The focus of the working committee is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and increasing campus resilience by developing a CAP which is an iterative process that sets preliminary goals, evaluate specific measures, calculates financial report, and then revises the goals. In addition, CATF has explored how the broader issues of climate change and sustainability could be represented throughout AIUB’s most important missions of providing excellent education, research, and a positive life experience for students on its campuses.
Operation
Energy Efficiency: Use energy-efficient appliances, lighting, heating, and cooling systems. Invest in green energy options like solar panels.
Waste Management: Create effective programs for recycling and composting. Promote reusable alternatives and reduce the usage of single-use plastics.
Green Infrastructure: Develop green spaces, plant diverse trees and use of eco-friendly construction materials as part of the green infrastructure strategy and boost biodiversity.
Water Conservation: Implement water-saving fixtures, monitor usage, and promote water-conscious behaviors.
Sustainable Procurement: Prioritize eco-friendly products, materials, and suppliers.
Awareness Programs: Regularly organize seminars, workshops and awareness programs to promote sustainable and responsible behavior towards nature.
Strategies are in place for reducing the University’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions' footprint of its operation. One of the key aims set out in AIUB is to achieve net zero carbon gradually.
Education
Curriculum Integration: Integrate SDGs into various existing courses across the curriculum. Offer multidisciplinary courses/topics with a climate change focus to ensure foundational understanding of climate issues.
Sustainability Literacy: Organize conferences, workshops, seminars, and other events to enhance environmental awareness and eco-literacy among students, staff and community.
Experiential Learning: Provide hands-on experiences like community garden projects, energy-saving challenges, etc.
Climate Leadership: Train student ambassadors through clubs to lead awareness campaigns and sustainable initiatives.
Research and Innovation
Interdisciplinary Research: Encourage departmental cooperation to tackle issues relating to the climate, from environmental science to politics and technology.
Research Center: Established specialized research center “Center for Sustainable Energy Research (CSER)” under Dr. Anwarul Abedin Institute of Innovation (D2A2I) focusing on sustainable energy including climate change, promoting in-depth analysis and innovation.
Student Involvement: Provide opportunities for students to engage in climate-related research projects, enabling them to contribute to real-world solutions.
Partnerships: Collaborate with industry, governmental agencies, and NGOs to leverage resources and expertise for impactful research.
Community Engagement:
Partnerships: Collaborate with local organizations, businesses, NGOs and government agencies to amplify climate initiatives.
Outreach Programs: Organize workshops, seminars, and public lectures to disseminate knowledge and encourage public and community involvement.
Student and Alumni Involvement: Engage students and alumni in local sustainability projects, community clean-ups, and climate-related events.
Continual Improvement:
Feedback Mechanisms: Solicit input from students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders to refine and enhance the Climate Action Plan.
Adaptability: Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices to continuously evolve our sustainability efforts.
By implementing the Climate Action Plan gradually, AIUB commits to playing a proactive role in addressing climate change through sustainable operations, education, research and community engagement fostering a safe global environment.
Facilitator for the Climate Action Plan: Professor Dr. Md. Faruque Hossain