E. Omrcen_University of Gothenburg_Creating Sustainable Campuses and Cities

8/6/2019 E. Omrcen_University of Gothenburg_Creating Sustainable Campuses and Cities

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International ISCN Symposium in Shanghai,27-28 July 2010

Creating sustainable campuses and cities.

- How could or should participation andlearning be developed between different

actors and stakeholders?

Eddi OmrcenEnvironmental manager

www.gu.se/miljo

Structure ofpresentation:

1)Some Challanges

2)

About the

University

of

Gothenburg

and

the

EMS

implementation3)Participation,cooperation andlearning onnationalandlocal level

4)Some examples ofcentres andprojects

5)Conclusion

Structure ofpresentation:

1)Some Challanges

2)

About the

University

of

Gothenburg

and

the

EMS

implementation3)Participation,cooperation andlearning onnationalandlocal level

4)Some examples ofcentres andprojects

5)Conclusion


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SOME CHALLANGES!

We talk about internalcooperation but we focus

on competition.

We talk about sustainabilitybut we focus primeraly onenvironmental issues.

We talk about external coope-ration but we dont know how.

How can we work with sustainability?

How can we create internal cooperation?

How can we create external cooperation?


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8 faculties 44 departments

The Sahlgrenska Academy pharmacy, medicine,

odontology and health care sciences

The Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts

The Faculty of Social Sciences

School of Business, Economics and Law

The Faculty of Education

The IT Faculty

37,000 students, 26,370 full-time students

134 educational programmes

2,127 courses

5,338 employees

385,800 square meters building area

500 million Euro total income/revenue

Facts

Gothenburg


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CORE VALUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY


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ORGANISATION


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Environmental management in Governmental Organizations

During 1997-2000 all Swedish Governmental organizations had to develop and implementan EMS

University of Gothenburg began to implement an Environmental Management System(EMS) during 1998 and 1999 according to the recommendations given by the Swedishgovernment, first in "Ecological sustainability" (1997) and "Integrating environmental

issues in Governmental Organizations" (1996).In February 2000 the University Board decided that the objective for the university should

be to recieve an ISO14001 certification. After six years of hard work the University intotal finally achieved its ISO14001 certificate in January 2006, along with an EMASregistration.


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SD integration into mission

SD is now a strategic issuePolicy documents:

- Strategic plan 2004-2006- Vision and Objectives 2010- New Strategy for Research and Education 2009-2012- Faculty Commissions- Environmental Handbook

The environmental objectives are divided into fourstrategically significant areas:Objectives for the area Research and Postgraduate Education

Objectives for the area Undergraduate EducationObjectives for the area Collaboration with the SocietyObjectives for the area Internal Environmental Work:

Impact on the climate:- Travel and Transport, - Energy useConsumption of resources:- Purchasing and Procurement, - Waste Management

Use of Chemical ProductsCompetence development/Staff Training

Whats in it for the University- Supports the work of the teachers and researchers atthe departments that do projects in sustainable

development.- More money and support for sustainabledevelopment.- Good check on environmental law.

- The Vice-Chancellor, the Deans and the Heads ofDepartments knows about the work with sustainabledevelopment and take part in a Environmental Auditevery year.- The Diploma gives an added value to the work withthe sustainable development.


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Change in the Higher Education Acthttp://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/7868/a/21540

5a was changed from 1 february 2006:In their activities, highereducation institutions shall promote sustainable development that ensurespresent and future generations a healthy and good environment, economicand social welfare and justice.

Faculty commissions 2006-2008

Environment and Sustainable Development:- During 2006-2008 the faculties will make a plan for how to integrate sustainable

development into their higher education and implement their plan.

BESTINSWEDEN!

(rankingbyG

reenStudents

,nov2007


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Regulation (2009:907) on environmentalmanagement in government departmentshttp://www.notisum.se/rnp/sls/lag/20090907.htm (in Swedish)

Valid from 2010-01-01

An authority shall, within the framework of its generalmandate, have an environmental management

system that integrates environmental considerationsinto the Agency's activities and in a systematic waytake into account the activity of direct and indirectenvironmental impacts.


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A governmental initiated process (GIP)lead to locally initiated processes (LIP)

Today university environmental management gives support andguidelines to the government in order to improve the ways ofimplementing an environmental management system in further areas.

In 2007 the University of Gothenburg got together with seven otheruniversities a commission to set guidelines for improvement of

reporting the work with environmental management back to thegovernment. Hence, the knowledge and experiences of the implementingprocess at the universities are used when evaluating the whole processand opens for the universities to set the standards for coming issues(Swedish EPA, 2008)*.

The University of Gothenburg was commissioned to review and updatethe guidelines Environmental management guide for governmentauthorities (Swedish EPA, 2008)**. These guidelines are widely used bySwedish authorities when starting the implementing process.


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Implementation process of an environmental management systemresults in organisational learning (OL) and national learning (NL)

The learning within the organisation has been enhanced through thewhole implementation process and the organisation has developedknowledge about the system at all levels that it is able to forward toothers

The University of Gothenburg has been asked to perform lecturesabout EMS for other authorities, including the Swedish EPA

The University of Gothenburg has become a model in implementingan EMS and there are plenty of of other national and foreign

universities that come visiting for bench-marking


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Monitor your results in an Environmental or Sustainability report.Gives you both quality and learning effects.

A report that shows how the EMS is structured, what targets weare working with and what results we have achieved.

The environmental work becomes visible inside and outsidethe organisation.

The management sees what it gets for the money.

Its easier to get money for new projects.

A way for the faculties and departments to show their resultsand unique actions.

One can get external commissions in the environmental field.

New: Making a report according to GRI, Global ReportingInitiative, level B and GRI checked, 2010


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Centre for Environment and Sustainability, GMVCo-operation between University of Gothenburg & Chalmers University of Technology

www.gmv.gu.se

TheCentreforEnvironmentandSustainability,GMV,inGteborg,SwedenisanetworkorganisationatChalmersUniversityofTechnologyandUniversityof

Gothenburg.Wepromoteresearchandeducationforsustainabledevelopment.

GMVcreatesandencouragesresearchprojectsandmultidisciplinaryinitiatives.

CooperationwiththebusinesscommunityinwesternSwedenaswellastheprovisionofinformationandeducationtothegeneralpublicare partofGMV's

brief.Bothresearchandtrainingarefirmlyfoundedinexisting scientific

disciplinesandmorethan500scientistsareinvolvedinGMV'sresearch

network.Therearealsoover500externalpartnersinthenetwork.

TheCentreforEnvironmentandSustainability,GMV,inGteborg,SwedenisanetworkorganisationatChalmersUniversityofTechnologyandUniversityof

Gothenburg.Wepromoteresearchandeducationforsustainabledevelopment.

GMVcreatesandencouragesresearchprojectsandmultidisciplinaryinitiatives.

CooperationwiththebusinesscommunityinwesternSwedenaswellastheprovisionofinformationandeducationtothegeneralpublicare partofGMV's

brief.Bothresearchandtrainingarefirmlyfoundedinexisting scientific

disciplinesandmorethan500scientistsareinvolvedinGMV'sresearch

network.Therearealsoover500externalpartnersinthenetwork.


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ABOUT GMV COOPERATION IS THE KEY!

Two universities working together for sustainable development

In 2001 Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg started a co-operationplatform for sustainable development and environmental research projects - the GMV Centre forEnvironment and Sustainability. GMV sprung out of the old environmental, co-operation organisation"the School of Environmental Science" started in the early nineties. GMV involves all faculties anddepartments at both universities as it is now widely realized that co-operation between differentresearch areas is needed for universities seeking to contribute to sustainable development. Thetraditional end-of-pipe solutions to environmental problems are no longer sufficient in the face ofglobal challenges such as climate change, food supply and increased energy demand.

Multidisciplinary approach

Natural scientists and social scientists, economists and engineers all have their role to play associety seeks to find sustainable solutions to such complex problems. Traditionally, however, it hasbeen difficult to put interdisciplinary ideas into practice. Through the Centre for Environment andSustainability, GMV, in Gteborg that initial threshold has been overcome.

Research platform and scientific networkGMV has succeeded in establishing a platform for interdisciplinary research projects andresearchers at Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg. The GMV researchnetwork is the largest gathering of environmental scientists in Sweden comprising more than 500members from all faculties at both universities and about 500 representatives from industry, localauthorities and other environmental organisations.


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Arts

Applied and Fine Arts

Social Science

The SahlgrenskaAcademy (Medicine+)

ScienceChalmers(Technology)

Education

School of Business,Economics and Law

The network of researchers

External partner

To create aresearch project


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GMV AS COORDINATOR AND STIMULATOR

GMV promotes research into sustainable development at alldepartments at both universities but does not pursue its ownresearch.

For researchers linked to the network, GMV offers a platform forprojects that span several scientific disciplines and can also facilitate

contact with industry and other researchers.

GMV also promotes environmental research in the Gteborg regionthrough special projects like GAME and by organising a number ofactivities directed at researchers, business representatives, politicians

and the general public.


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Graduate schools

GMV administer three graduate schools that deals with issues regardingsustainable development:

Climate and Mobility

Climate & Mobility is a graduate school funded by University of Gothenburg. It is run by the Centrefor Environment and Sustainability, GMV, a co-operation organisation between University ofGothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology.

About twenty PhD-students are now participating in the graduate school. They represent fivefaculties at University of Gothenburg: Science, Social Science, Education, Art and Economics &

Commercial Law. NMK

PhD-students from the filed of Geology, Inorganic chemistry, Concrete Chemistry and Conservationget together in the graduate school. NMK is a cooperation between University of Gothenburg,Chalmers, the regional universitys of Dalarna and Gotland, the Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen), local authorities and industries.

Environment and Health

The University of Gothenburg now launches a new graduate school to study the relationshipbetween human health and the environment, from a number of different perspectives.


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Environment & Health - a multi-disciplinary graduate school

The University of Gothenburg have launched a new graduate school to study the relationship

between human health and the environment, from a number of different perspectives.

An initial 14 PhD-projects has been singled out to participate in the graduate school's first phase. Anadditional 10 projects will be initiated in the second phase, scheduled to start at the end of 2009.Thus, fully developed, the graduate school will comprise 24 PhD-projects, representing a variety ofresearch departments at University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, such asMedicine, Political Science, Philosophy, Chemistry, Work Science, Consumer Science, Civil and

Environmental Engineering and Product and Production Development. The area of special interest for all projects in the graduate school is the overlap zone between the

traditional environment and health research areas respectively. Both environmental and healthperspectives are, directly or indirectly, to be considered in all projects. In this case we define theterm "health" as the physical health and well being of humans, eg. disease and ability to function insociety. The meaning of the term "environment" stretches from the classical definitions of

environmental disturbances like air and water pollution, noise and radioactivity to other potentiallyhealth affecting phenomena, like life habits and psychosocial factors, primarily originating fromsocietal organisation.

The initial funding from University of Gothenburg is 20 million SEK. The graduate school is co-funded by Chalmers University of Technology and the Vstra Gtaland Region and co-ordinated bythe Centre for Environment and Sustainability (GMV).


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MISTRA URBAN FUTURES

www.mistraurbanfutures.se

Time frame Mistra Urban Futures: Developing phase 2010-2011 Research, pilotprojects, implementation, 2x4 year, 2012-2019 Phase out of support from Mistra 2020-2021


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About the centre

The centres profile is defined by a number of concrete activities that have been selected to promotegreater cooperation in the area of sustainable urban development. While contributing added value,these also offer something new in terms of both form and content. Making a difference is a primarycriterion for selecting activities, as is offering a broadly-based operation generating new knowledgein new formats. Projectsundertaken jointly by various partners form the centres core activity. Theprojects are designed to benefit from and contribute to the development of the centre. More than one

partner is actively involved in each project since the aim is to generate knowhow at the interfacebetween different fields of knowledge, and between the areas of research and practice. UF projectsmay also be associated, in part, with another organisation. International cooperation is developed byexchanging knowledge and experience between projects conducted on the various internationalplatforms.

Meeting placesmake UF a place to visit and revisit a place where stakeholders share their own

knowledge and draw on that of others. Forms for meetings are structured to encourage inclusivedialogue with full freedom of expression. UF also develops cooperation by using existing meetingplaces for the public and special interest groups.

Areas of knowledgeare being established within the centre to gather knowledge within newly-defined fields. In future, the centre will be a source of new and pioneering knowledge for academicand practical applications. UFs international attractiveness is reinforced by a strong focus on theseareas.


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CONSORTIUMChalmers University of Technology

The Gteborg Region Association of Local AuthoritiesCity of GothenburgUniversity of GothenburgIVL Swedish Environmental Research InstituteThe County Administrative Board of Vstra Gtaland

Region Vstra Gtaland

FINANCIAL AGENCIESMistra (The Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research)

Sida (The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSThe Center for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures , University of Salford,

Manchester UKMaseno University & Kisumu Action Team (KAT), Kisumo, KenyaCollege of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), Tongji University , Shanghai, ChinaAfrican Center for Cities (ACC), University of Cape Town, South Africa


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Five major pilot projects starting in 2010

Mistra Urban Futures started operating on January 1, 2010. Theorganisation will make a real difference to the environment and thelives of people in the worlds cities.

Within the framework of five major pilot projects that start in 2010,excellent, effective and relevant knowledge is developed in close

collaboration between practitioners and researchers. The results willthen serve as input for policy makers and citizens.

The following five projects will start in 2010:

1. Multilevel Governance

2. Climate adapted urban structures 3. Urban empowerment: Cultures of participation and learning

4. Business-driven sustainable development

5. Urban games


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1. Multilevel GovernanceThe project aims to describe and analyse the effectiveness ofcollaboration both between different sectors and across multiplelevels of governance regarding decision-support and policydevelopment for sustainable urban development. Knowledge andexperience from different types of collaborative processes

between decision-makers and administrators in the Gothenburg areawill be collected and evaluated by both practitioners and researchers.Examples of such processes include the Gothenburg RegionAssociation of Local Authoritie's work with deliberative processes forsustainable growth, the process surrounding the public transportprogram (K2020), the vision of Western Gotaland "The god life" (the

regional strategy for sustainable development), and the City ofGothenburg's work with the social dimension of sustainability (S2020).


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2. Climate adapted urban structures

The project focuses particularly on how different climate adaptationconcepts - retreat, defence, attack - can be used in connection withurban development. It also examines potential economic, social andecological consequences brought about by the various concepts. The

project is limited to examining and evaluating the concepts of attack,defence and retreat in terms of gradual adaptation to future rises insea level, as a result of climate change, in the Free Port area inGothenburg, and possibly even northern Masthugget.


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3. Urban empowerment: Cultures of participation and learning

The project investigates how participation and learning can be developed witha focus on the north-eastern districts of Gothenburg. The project is linked tothe City of Gothenburg 's Vision Angered" and the project S2020, as well asthe University of Gothenburg and Chalmers' commitment to open a branch inHammarkullen. The project's aim is to develop a culture of participation andlearning relating directly to changes being planned in Hammarkullen. The

project's specific focus is on residents' participation in this process. 4. Business-driven sustainable development

The project focuses on entrepreneurship as a driving force for sustainabledevelopment and aims to, with a wide-ranging dialogue, systematize theknowledge and experience within the area. What obstacles and opportunitiesare considered universal? What would a model for evaluating and

implementing business ideas for sustainable city development look like? 5. Urban games

Common learning for sustainable development. This project focuses on theuse of games and visualisation to understand the city as a complex system.The Centre of Visualization, City of Gothenburg and GRUL, which is GR'sproject on experience-based learning, are some of the participants in this

project.


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CONCLUSION: SOME REALITIES!

We are working with sustainability!

We create and stimulate

internal cooperation!

We create and stimulate

external cooperation!


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MoreinformationabouttheworkforSustainableDevelopmentatUniversityofGothenburgisavailableat:

http://www.gu.se/miljo

The Sustainable University

The Sustainable Student

The Sustainable Laboratory

Sustainable Meetings

Films about the sustainability work

Documents

E. Omrcen_University of Gothenburg_Creating Sustainable Campuses and Cities