What About the Human Side of Climate-Induced Migration? …
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The sustainability challenges are not only technical but ethical and involve the development of individual and collective awareness of society at the global level. There
is an urgent need for a change in the economic organization of institutions, but also
in the personal habits of individuals (Lozano 2013; Wright and Wilton 2014).
According to one of the interviewees, “students are strategic to the promotion of
sustainable initiatives, as they will be the mentors and leaders of the future”. However,
the lack of students’ engagement in the universities’ processes can be linked to several
challenges, such as distance between the university and the student, lack of interest
in several campus projects, low investments in communication platforms and little
control over the performance of the initiatives (Ribeiro et al. 2018). The literature on
universities and sustainability indicate that students often neglect the social aspect of
sustainability, for they are taught to consider the environmental aspect as the major
concern. Therefore, “university campuses must engage students to promote social
activities”, including the integration and capacity building of refugees.
Among the initiatives developed by the universities managed by the interviewees,
two institutions have structured specific programs for the SDGs. One of them created
a holistic program developed by an innovation center, which encompasses Zero
Hunger (SDG 2), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy
(7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and
Production (SDG 12); and the other maintains a holistic environmental education
program based on the SDGs, which includes education, research, outreach, campus
operations and management.
Other institutions promote general initiatives for energy efficiency, waste management, social responsibility and environmental awareness. One of the interviewees
also encouraged the “participation of universities and their research centers on international networks”, which contributes to “share experiences and gather information
and resources to promote the SDGs locally”. Finally, knowing that more than 60% of
human diseases are zoonotic, one of the institutions also maintain public veterinary
hospitals that offer “nearly a thousand free veterinary services and procedures for
the local communities, particularly to those in a vulnerable situation”, which helps
to promote health, wellbeing and education; the interviewee also informed that the
institution applied to the SDGs Knowledge Platform.
Questionnaire 5th Question: Are You Aware of the Current Refugee Crisis? If
Yes, What is Your Opinion on How This Issue is Being Addressed
by the International Community?
Universities, as the main promoters of sustainable development, need to strengthen
their engagement with social causes, including refugees (Crea 2016). All the interviewees were aware of the current refugee crisis and agreed that the international
community is not doing enough to deal with the causes of the problem, nor with the
challenges faced by the migrants.
Two of the interviewees stated that the international community is neglecting the
refugee crisis and are failing to encourage countries to implement efficient pubic
policies and aid to refugees worldwide; also failing to resolve the causes of forced
165
The sustainability challenges are not only technical but ethical and involve the development of individual and collective awareness of society at the global level. There
is an urgent need for a change in the economic organization of institutions, but also
in the personal habits of individuals (Lozano 2013; Wright and Wilton 2014).
According to one of the interviewees, “students are strategic to the promotion of
sustainable initiatives, as they will be the mentors and leaders of the future”. However,
the lack of students’ engagement in the universities’ processes can be linked to several
challenges, such as distance between the university and the student, lack of interest
in several campus projects, low investments in communication platforms and little
control over the performance of the initiatives (Ribeiro et al. 2018). The literature on
universities and sustainability indicate that students often neglect the social aspect of
sustainability, for they are taught to consider the environmental aspect as the major
concern. Therefore, “university campuses must engage students to promote social
activities”, including the integration and capacity building of refugees.
Among the initiatives developed by the universities managed by the interviewees,
two institutions have structured specific programs for the SDGs. One of them created
a holistic program developed by an innovation center, which encompasses Zero
Hunger (SDG 2), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy
(7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and
Production (SDG 12); and the other maintains a holistic environmental education
program based on the SDGs, which includes education, research, outreach, campus
operations and management.
Other institutions promote general initiatives for energy efficiency, waste management, social responsibility and environmental awareness. One of the interviewees
also encouraged the “participation of universities and their research centers on international networks”, which contributes to “share experiences and gather information
and resources to promote the SDGs locally”. Finally, knowing that more than 60% of
human diseases are zoonotic, one of the institutions also maintain public veterinary
hospitals that offer “nearly a thousand free veterinary services and procedures for
the local communities, particularly to those in a vulnerable situation”, which helps
to promote health, wellbeing and education; the interviewee also informed that the
institution applied to the SDGs Knowledge Platform.
Questionnaire 5th Question: Are You Aware of the Current Refugee Crisis? If
Yes, What is Your Opinion on How This Issue is Being Addressed
by the International Community?
Universities, as the main promoters of sustainable development, need to strengthen
their engagement with social causes, including refugees (Crea 2016). All the interviewees were aware of the current refugee crisis and agreed that the international
community is not doing enough to deal with the causes of the problem, nor with the
challenges faced by the migrants.
Two of the interviewees stated that the international community is neglecting the
refugee crisis and are failing to encourage countries to implement efficient pubic
policies and aid to refugees worldwide; also failing to resolve the causes of forced