Students for Sustainability (S Square) has been selected for the Global University Climate Forum (GUCF) by Yale University! GUCF had over 160 applications from more than 40 countries, so the process was quite competitive, and the cohort is remarkably diverse. Inspired by the week of awareness on food sustainability, S Square submitted a proposal in September to take their idea into action within a six-month journey. Food in KSA is vulnerable due to import dependence and massive food waste, which bears a negative climate impact. S Square attempts to reduce campus dining burdens on the climate using the UNEP Green Nudges approach. The team hopes to create a momentum for positive impact at KAUST and act as a role model for other Saudi universities.
What's exciting is that this opportunity puts the KAUST Community in the spotlight, both locally and globally. Successfully completed projects will be included in a publication to be issued during the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, Scotland. This initiative is supervised and supported by the head of sustainability at KAUST, Ana Margarida Costa, and the graduate affairs.
Two weeks ago, the team met with the VP of community life, Chris Sealy, to establish a foundation for collaboration. Chris supported the initiative and empowered S Square by facilitating communication with the Community Life team. S Square will launch the project in early December and welcomes the participation of all KAUST community in the coming event:
Webinar | Data-driven Agriculture for a More Sustainable Food Production System by Professor Matthew F. McCabe
Time & Date: December 22nd at 4:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Register here.
Every KAUSTian is part of this exciting project. It will take all of our collective efforts to make this a successful journey of change.
Should you have any questions, please contact us at s.square@kaust.edu.sa.