Universities and partners join United Nations Academic Impact at major event to address global challenges
The ways in which higher education can advance the United Nations’s sustainability agenda has been set out in a landmark event bringing together academics, students, civic leaders and partner organisations from across the world.
Hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University, the hybrid event A future we choose: Working together for more sustainable lifestyles showcased collaborative initiatives that encourage responsible consumption and production.
Attendees shared insights from research, policy, community projects and educational programmes, highlighting practical ways universities can lead societal change toward sustainable lifestyles.
The event marked Manchester Met’s international leadership role in its appointment as Vice-Chair of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12) Hub, focused on responsible consumption and production.
SDG12 is central to addressing the growing imbalance between the resources the world consumes and what the planet can sustain. Global consumption continues to outpace natural replenishment, while waste exceeds what ecosystems can absorb. Universities are increasingly recognised as key drivers of behavioural, technological and policy change in response to this challenge.
Manchester Met has long embedded sustainability across its teaching, research and operations, and the event showed how this whole-institution approach is translating into practical impact.
Through a programme of flash talks, discussions and networking, speakers and attendees explored how the University is incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals into curricula, advancing interdisciplinary research, and building partnerships that connect academic insight with policy and practice.
The session also created opportunities to strengthen collaboration between universities, government, civil society and industry, with new connections and areas for joint working identified throughout the afternoon. These included opportunities for knowledge exchange, student engagement and the co-development of projects focused on reducing waste, improving resource efficiency and influencing more sustainable behaviours.
Professor Steve Rothberg, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Manchester Met, said: “As universities, we have a critical role to play in responding to the global sustainability challenge. By bringing together our research, teaching and partnerships, we can help shape the systems and behaviours needed to support more sustainable ways of living.
“This event demonstrated the strength of collaboration at Manchester Met and beyond, and the important contribution we can make through our role within the UNAI SDG12 Hub.”
The event also highlighted how Manchester Met’s Vice-Chair position is enabling the University to connect its expertise with a global network of more than 1,700 institutions, increasing its reach and supporting international efforts to deliver the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the event, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Sustainability, Professor Liz Price, said: “What stood out was the shared commitment to turning ambition into action. By bringing together colleagues, students and partners, we have been able to spark new collaborations and identify practical ways to embed sustainable practices across our work.
“Our role within the UNAI SDG 12 Hub gives us a strong platform to connect this activity globally, and this event has helped to build momentum for meaningful, lasting impact.”
