Lately, the sustainability impact of the ICT industry, especially its large energy consumption and carbon footprint, have been a topic in public debate. The sustainability perspectives in the ICT industry will be discussed in an open seminar at the University of Turku on 10 December 2019.
The University of Turku participates in the Zero Emissions Day campaign organised by the Climate Leadership Coalition. The objective of the campaign is to give the Earth a fossil fuel free day and to address harmful emissions. Different aspects of sustainable development have also been highly prominent in the University’s strategic planning process. Already before the beginning of the new strategy period, the University’s carbon footprint is being determined and education on sustainable development advanced.
In spring 2019, the University of Turku and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 9 on creating a sustainable industry, innovations, and infrastructures. The collaboration was launched with a two-day seminar on Monday, 26 August.
The University of Turku and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa aim to promote the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 9 on creating a sustainable industry, innovations, and infrastructures. Rector of the University of Turku Jukka Kola, Minister for Education Li Andersson, and Mayor of Turku Minna Arve will participate in the opening seminar for the Finland-Africa Platform for Sustainable Development Goal 9 which will be held at the University of Turku on 26–27 August 2019.
Many boaters are still occasionally releasing their sewage directly into the sea. The reason, however, may not be their own indifference, but rather the result of a lack of sewage pump-out stations or the fact that stations may be located in the wrong places, in poor condition or have insufficient user instructions. The purpose of the BATSECO-BOAT project is to survey the needs of boaters and improve the sewage pumping services throughout the entire central Baltic Sea region.
Rector of the University of Turku Kalervo Väänänen and Division Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Carlos Haddad have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), whose goal is to advance Africa’s sustainable industry, innovations, and infrastructures.
Within a collaboration project of the University of Turku and the University of Namibia, a large tree area is created in Namibia to function as a carbon sink and also to serve the ecological and economic needs of Namibia. The launch of the Carbon Garden project was celebrated at the University of Namibia’s campus in Henties Bay on 10 May 2019. The attendees included the first President of Namibia Sam Nujoma and the current Vice President Nangolo Mbumba.
According to consumer evaluations, quinoa as well as Andean and narrow-leaved lupins are well suited for smoothies and snack products. Researchers studied how crops with promising qualities, namely quinoa and lupin, can be used in sustainable food production.
The University of Turku commits to taking measures to make the University carbon neutral.