Vision

Using the UNEP Green Nudges approach, our group will reduce the burdens of campus dining on the climate. We hope to create momentum to impact KAUST and act as a role model to other Saudi universities.

Metrics for success  

Food is currently heavily subsidized to make it cheap, including meat, and is being wasted in significant amounts. Our metrics for success will be the quantity of pre-and post-consumption food waste, food choices shift, feedback from intended audience or stakeholders (survey), the volume of wasted packaging, the quantity of plant-based food purchased, the quantity of local food purchased, and the number of initiatives completed.

Final report 

Our Students for Sustainability group at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) felt the urgency to launch an initiative towards a more climate-friendly diner as part of the Global University Climate Forum. Inspired by the week of awareness on food sustainability, they submitted a proposal in September of 2020 to take their idea into action within a six-month journey. They aimed to reduce the climate burden of campus dining by reducing food waste and promoting eco-friendly food options. 

The team conducted a food audit to describe and quantify the food waste, run a questionnaire to assess consumer behavior and awareness, and identify critical action areas. They found that 42% of customers leave their meal unfinished. This significant portion is important. The team partnered with key campus stakeholders, including internal departments and external service providers, to have more sustainable options by introducing nutritious vegetarian meals, reusable takeaway containers, and use less oil in the kitchen. 

The team played an important role in providing education to consumers. Indeed, ethical and sustainable criteria are important for 90% of customers’ meal choices; however, only 25% of those we surveyed were aware of the environmental footprint of their meals. To address this, our group designed and displayed several infographics at the diner’s entrance with eco-friendly food labels indicating water intensity and carbon footprint. Additionally, they held vegan supper club meetings, webinars, and movie nights on food sustainability. 

The collective actions of our team helped make the diner experience better, healthier, and more environmentally friendly. The team hopes to create momentum for positive impact at KAUST and act as a role model for other Saudi universities.

Vision

Our goal is to achieve a user-driven change in food consumption patterns in the canteen with a shift towards lower emission foods. This shift will demonstrate that our incentive system based on a climate-conscious pricing scheme is a valid approach for institutions to reduce their Green House Gas emissions.

Metrics for success  

Conducting a pilot of our idea is our baseline for success. To measure results, we will combine consumption data with qualitative user metrics. For example, we may infer changes in dietary choices from canteen food orders and hence GHG emissions. We can strengthen our metrics by including waste monitoring as well as (anonymized) purchasing data. We will conduct surveys to gauge user satisfaction and awareness. Feedback from stakeholders will indicate the impact of our idea and its potential for scalability.

Final report 

We have much to be proud of in undertaking this project. Although the conceived pilot study did not take place in the Global University Climate Forum timeline, our accomplishments have laid the groundwork for a successful future of our project. 

We received immense feedback from both a collaborative and a promotional aspect. Our university was immediately interested and happily helped us network with key stakeholders. The main contacts within the catering industry were open to collaborating, as they felt it was a novel approach that could solve their problems with implementing sustainability practices while maintaining financial stability.

The key obstacle in our Forum experience has been the Coronavirus lockdown, which put everything on hold, both in our project and in the foodservice industry generally. As a result, we shifted our strategy towards creating a guiding framework for when things reopen, as well as building our network with stakeholders.

The main lesson learned from the Forum is that there is a demand for our solution, from catering companies to university administrations and fellow students. We also learned that the market expands outwards from our area, as we were approached by media outlets from different countries to write stories about our project. 

To transfer our learning outcome, we have shared a detailed report with key stakeholders in Denmark (contact yeswecanteen@posteo.net for a copy). In addition, we hope to connect with a new group of students who will find inspiration in this work and join our project once canteens reopen.

Vision

Our work will improve the University of Edinburgh’s ability to achieve its zero-waste Vision by 2030 and consequently will contribute to the university reaching its carbon neutrality target by 2040. By encouraging student engagement in the policy implementation of the GFP, we will increase awareness of food waste’s impact on climate, thereby reducing the university’s climate impact. Furthermore, increased knowledge and awareness will encourage student participation in climate debates and personal habits.

Metrics for success  

At the conclusion of this project, we will disseminate and present a three-page report on the Good Food Policy (GFP) to the relevant departments. Including: 

• Assessment of the results achieved in 2019-20 (accounting for COVID-19 interruptions).
• Recommendations to improve the GFP and Implementation Plan for 2021-22.
• Pilot project design to test the validity of a key recommendation related to student engagement.

Final report 

If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Our project aims to support and strengthen the University of Edinburgh’s commitments to sustainable food systems, particularly in relation to student engagement with food waste. 

We have critically analyzed the University’s Good Food Policy (GFP), which outlines commitments to environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable food systems. In consultation with university stakeholders, we sought to understand the successes and challenges of implementing the GFP. Our findings and recommendations were disseminated in a report (attached) and presented to GFP stakeholders. This portion of the project went as planned.  

The University has made substantial progress towards meeting its GFP commitments. Nevertheless, the GFP could be strengthened substantively and procedurally by improving monitoring and evaluation and shortening the review cycle. Many of our recommendations pertain to increasing student engagement, for example, by involving students in menu planning, educating students, and publicizing initiatives via communications campaigns. Further, we recommend that the University includes suppliers in GFP commitments, publishes a list of food suppliers, and improves infrastructure by introducing additional food waste bins.   

We intended to design a pilot project to support the implementation of the GFP, but due to staff and resource restrictions, this was not possible. However, in collaboration with university staff, we could identify a knowledge gap that we could help fill via additional research. Therefore, we carried out a short survey of University of Edinburgh students to help the University better understand student perceptions and behaviors around food waste. Our findings can be used to inform further research and implementation of the GFP.

Vision

Every year, 7 million tons of food are thrown away by households in the UK. Less than 1/3 of this food waste is redirected for sustainable disposal, such as composting or anaerobic digestion. The Food for Fuel Project (FFF) is run for and by students at the University of Plymouth. It aims to inspire students to actively address the climate crisis through the sustainable management of food waste through a domestic food waste collection service for students living in University accommodation.

Metrics for success  

Using a petition and survey, the Project captured student demand for such a service. The responses showed that 90% of students use the current recycling streams and, over 92% wanted to actively participate in separating food waste too. Our team met with the University’s Head of Sustainability, the City Council’s Planning Officer, and the accommodation Operations Manager. Feasibility and costs have been considered from these meetings, and a pilot is planned for the academic year 2021/22.

Final report 

Our Project was supposed to have a pilot study in place for September 2021, but due to the barriers we encountered with waste contracts being overseen by various stakeholders it is more likely to launch in early 2022. However, the Project overcame this barrier through numerous outreach efforts and meetings to get all stakeholders in agreement. 

The Project’s survey included questions relating to the negative environmental impacts of food production, loss, and waste. The responses, unexpectedly, revealed a significant gap in awareness of these impacts and, over 80% of students wanted to learn more. The Project addressed and overcame this challenge by engaging students on social media through informative graphics and videos (you can find them on our Instagram: food4fuelproject ). The use of social media also allowed for a better connection with peers. This strategy involved Instagram as most individuals in the target demographic, students aged 18-24, favor this platform. 

The next steps for this project and the team members are to work directly with the Accommodation Team and Operations Manager to focus on educating. This includes establishing a Waste Ambassador whose role is to support student residents with all waste queries, such as what can be put in food waste caddies and how to reduce contamination of other recyclable materials.

Vision

Our vision is to be able to provide food security and sovereignty to the vulnerable communities we work with. In the medium- and long-term we plan to reduce the consumption of beef by replacing it with vegetables rich in nutrients such as calcium, vitamin A and protein. We also intend to strengthen social cohesion through collective planting, and the exchange of knowledge that empower the community to achieve the construction of peace little by little.

Metrics for success  

We will use a satisfaction survey of the community to determine whether we have done a good job. We can also measure success with the number of followers we reach on our Facebook page: this will help us to know whether to continue the agroecology project with the community and possibly replicate the project in other communities.

Final report 

Despite the pandemic, the restrictions placed on us by the government to enter the community, and the acute social crisis that Colombia is experiencing, we managed to reinvent ourselves to be able to train the communities, knowing that they did not have the dignity of conditions such as clean water, energy, or sewage treatment, much less internet connection. We could not meet in person due to the prohibitions of the national and local government. Still, by cellphone calls through the social leader, we were able to train the community in agroecology and environment in the company of experts from renowned universities from Colombia, Germany, Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina to follow up on the orchards. The entire orchard survived despite not having the economic resources but with all the support and affection of the community that remained united despite the intense conditions that we had to go through. If the project continues, we will continue working with the necessary materials for the expansion of orchards. We have already managed to get almost 4,000 people in Neiva and other regions of Colombia interested in the project without paying for publicity. We managed to make alliances with the University of Los Andes to replicate our university community experience and joined the Network of Orchards of Huila. This is very important considering the food shortage in Colombia, where several children have died from chronic malnutrition.

Vision

GreenPins intends to promote sustainable food and beverage businesses through a map web app that enables consumers to eat sustainably. The search and filter function are a tool for consumers to find sustainable businesses exclusively. These businesses are rewarded for their sustainable practices with higher exposure and publicity. In addition, businesses are assessed on the success of their waste management, food carbon footprint, resource efficiency, and social justice before they are listed on the app.

Metrics for success  

First, we will count the number of active users of the app. This will indicate the popularity of the app with consumers in Singapore. Second, the number of businesses registered and featured in the application’s interface will reflect the relevance of the application and concept of sustainability to the food and beverage business landscape in Singapore. Lastly, the broader success of the application will be evident in a more significant shift towards operating and consuming sustainably.

Final report 

Our groundwork revealed valuable insights into consumer preferences and business owner sentiments that will be considered when building our user interface. First and foremost, consumers think businesses should reduce, reuse, and recycle material waste, and manage their food waste sustainably. Our participants also voted price, customer rating, and food options to be their primary consideration when searching for a place to dine in. Moreover, we found that consumers in Singapore are not familiar with the existing eco-certifications that governmental and non-governmental organizations use for businesses. Hence, businesses are less incentivized to get certified for having more significant levels of sustainability in their operations. However, more responses will have to be collected to strengthen the significance of these results.

One challenge we faced was in assessing the sustainability of businesses considering our lean workforce. Thus, we plan to use information self-declared by the businesses but will be corroborated by patrons. As a result, we anticipate the database’s quality and size to increase as more businesses and patrons are attracted. Moreover, our criteria must be realistic, relevant, and inclusive, considering the impact of the pandemic on smaller, cash-strapped businesses.

To create the application and run our campaign, we applied for funding from the government and are awaiting an outcome. We recognize the growing desire for sustainable consumerism and hope to make an impact with our project.

Vision

We envision a society with sustainable thinking, aware of the importance of maintaining and implementing green public spaces, passing on their beliefs to future generations to have a better quality of life in the city.

Metrics for success  

Our proposal consists of creating an Instagram page to disseminate information on the importance of public green spaces to improve people’s quality of life. The success of the project is measured through the interactions of the social network.

Final report 

This project consists of studying public green spaces and their influence on the quality of life of its inhabitants in the district of Lurín, located south of Metropolitan Lima, Peru. This district currently has just 1.12 m² per resident. Public green spaces have a significant influence on the quality of life and urban health, but the rapid urbanization of cities means that there is no consideration of these spaces. This trend is evident in the area of our study as well as other districts of Lima. In this sense, the objective of this project is to identify the influence of existing public green spaces in the district, given the quality of life presented by its inhabitants, and make the population aware of the great importance, benefits, and positive environmental impact of these spaces.

The methodology used is descriptive. The information was collected through surveys carried out with the residents of the district to identify their opinion and influence of public green spaces in their daily lifestyle and the collection of information from different sources such as scientific articles and research. Likewise, the barriers that arose in the investigation were due to the current situation due to COVID-19, since the interviews were virtual, in addition to the lack of tools to measure the heat island effect in the areas studied.

For its application, we developed graphics and audiovisual tools based on the results obtained. These are currently being disseminated through social networks to serve as a means of raising awareness for the population.

As a team, we worked virtually and sometimes visited the study area. As a result, we have acquired new knowledge related to public green spaces and their influence on the quality of life. However, we are aware that there is still work to be done to achieve the proposed goals. The next steps will be to reach an agreement with the authorities and support each other so that the project has a greater scope.

Vision

Light pollution is a problem that affects socio-ecological systems. It generates adverse effects on the circadian cycles of humans and other species, affecting human health and carrying the loss of biodiversity in the long term. Our project aims to achieve good practices and energy efficiency in outdoor lighting to decrease light pollution and reach financial savings. This will prevent energy waste, which is all-important in the fight against climate change.

Metrics for success  

We held meetings with decision-makers from institutions focused on climate change and sustainability of our university: Programa de Investigación en Cambio Climático (PINCC-UNAM), Comisión Universitaria para la Sustentabilidad (CoUS-UNAM) and Dirección General de Atención a la Comunidad (DGACO). They showed their commitment to collaborate in the funding of a pilot phase of the sustainable lighting project on the main campus of UNAM.

Final report 

To support the priorities of the 2030 Agenda, including climate action, many countries are working on the transition to green energy. This must be complemented by the efficient use of energy. For example, Mexico pledged to reduce 22% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and accordingly, UNAM proposed the same goal. However, energy waste makes it difficult to comply.

To contribute to the sustainable management of energy, the team Tequio prepared an exterior lighting master plan based on the recommendations of the International Dark-Sky Association and the guidelines of the recently approved “Dark Sky Law” in the Mexican environmental policy. 

In the process of elaboration of the master plan, the team is collaborating with the lighting designer, Oriana Romero Nava, and the multidisciplinary group “Luces Sobre la Ciudad,” which has the objective of proposing lighting strategies based on science for Mexico City.

Vision

Our Vision is to prototype a citizen-led public engagement tool that supports Local Authorities to make effective investments in active travel. The project will engage with diverse community members to gather inclusive data documenting local danger hotspots for walking and cycling. We will convert data into an interactive map linked to experiential inputs such as real-life videos, photos, and anecdotes. Results will be communicated to participants and the broader community through a webinar.

Metrics for success  

The results of our short survey demonstrated that the local community would support the development of cycling infrastructure in Falmouth and would embrace cycling as their primary mode of transport should infrastructure improve. Though localized to a small town in Cornwall, our survey has highlighted the importance of public consultation to promote active travel in the future. We advise that local councils implement a similar platform to gather insights into cycling infrastructure.

Final report 

Active travel is an essential part of shifting to a zero-carbon way of life and economy. However, route safety has been identified as a major barrier to growth. Our project proposed a citizen-led approach that collates experiential data from active travelers to document and map local danger hotspots in Falmouth (Cornwall, UK). 

Our Vision was to prototype a citizen-led public engagement tool that supports Local Authorities to make effective investments in active travel. The project has engaged with diverse community members to gather inclusive data documenting danger hotspots for cycling. Data collected also shows geospatially where cycling infrastructure is supported and not supported. Results and a short report are available at the following web address. These will also be presented to Cornwall Council and relevant local investors to explore potential uses in further active travel development.

The results of our short survey have demonstrated that the local community would support the development of cycling infrastructure in Falmouth and would embrace cycling as their main mode of transport should infrastructure improve. Though localized to a small town in Cornwall, our survey has highlighted the importance of public consultation to promote active travel in the future.

It is advised that local councils implement a similar platform to gather insights into cycling infrastructure. This should not be limited to stakeholder engagement before planning but rather an ongoing effort to promote active travel. It is also suggested that other forms of active travel are included in the future, such as walking.

Learn more about the project in our website: A Survey into Active Travel in Falmouth, UK, 

Vision

Our project aimed to raise awareness of the ecological status of La Roqueta island in Acapulco, Guerrero. We achieved our goal through the civil association, “Youth for the SDGs,” creating support content such as infographics, informative brochures, and informative talks to the general population.

Metrics for success  

Through the civil association we established several links that provided the necessary support to benefit this project. Some of the beneficial links were the National System for the Integral Development of Families (DIF), members of the Association for the Defense and Conservation of Roqueta Island A.C., Dr. Nau Silverio Niño Gutiérrez, Dr. Treviño, and Dr. Efrén, who provided logistical support, and at least ten new volunteers who joined the project.

Final report 

Our greatest obstacle was dealing with the pandemic since it was necessary to travel to the island’s vicinity to get the required permits to carry out the study. Despite the setback, however, we were able to achieve specific project goals. Some of these goals were the possibility of designing and disseminating the naturalist project and creating links with different organizations and collaborators who facilitated and explained the procedures we had to follow to obtain the sampling and transport permits. Therefore, in the following weeks, we hope that we will be able to complete the subsequent phases since the measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the state have diminished.