Monash partners with the United Nations Australia to host sustainability forum
Monash University is proud to be partnering with the United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria Division) to host the two-day inaugural United Nations and Australia Sustainable Partnerships Forum.
On April 20-21, governments of all levels, business, universities, students and organisations will convene via a virtual platform to discuss critical issues in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The virtual event will feature a range of keynote speakers, panel sessions and interactive workshops with the overarching themes of climate and planet, poverty and inequality, justice and human rights, and gender equality.
Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AC will officially open the forum before UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed provides an address from the UN Headquarters in New York City.
“We are incredibly proud to join the UN Australia and business and industry leaders for this forum to educate and empower people from across the region to take action,” Professor Gardner said.
“A focus on sustainable development has never been so critical as countries seek to rebuild from the global COVID-19 pandemic. As Australia’s largest university, we recognise the significant role we play in fostering a more sustainable future for all.
“That is why in 2016 we pledged a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrated through projects such as the University’s Net Zero Initiative, international partnerships and vast multidisciplinary research programs.”
In 2017, Monash committed to net-zero carbon emissions from its Australian campuses by 2030. The Monash Net Zero Initiative has been recognised globally for its approach to linking operational ambition with impact via research, education and translation.
Monash has been consistently recognised amongst the world’s most effective universities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, a global assessment of universities’ performance against the UN SDGs.