From 13–15 November, delegates from tertiary institutions across Australia and New Zealand attended the Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) annual conference. The event attracts participants that are actively engaged in sustainable initiatives within areas covering curriculum, environmental management, facilities, finance, social responsibility and community engagement. In its 19th year, the conference promotes collaborative learning, transformative thinking and networking for professionals, students and cross-sector partners working in all areas of sustainability.
The 2019 conference focused on the need for the higher education sector to expand its impact. By moving beyond just creating sustainable campuses and curricula, institutions can realise their unique potential to champion sustainable development and shape a motived generation of leaders with the skills to tackle critical environmental, economic and socio-political challenges.
UQ Sustainability presented on student leadership and engagement in the development of the draft UQ Sustainability Strategy 2020–2030, UQ’s involvement in Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS) and the UQ Unwrapped initiative.
The conference incorporates the annual Green Gown Awards that recognise excellence in sustainability within the tertiary education sector in Australasia. Both UQ Unwrapped and the UQ Warwick Solar Farm were finalists, with the Warwick Solar Farm winning in the inaugural 2030 Climate Action category.
The conference allowed delegates to promote initiatives and exchange ideas and to build partnerships for best practice sustainability across all types of campuses to embed a community for positive engagement, capacity building, and impact.
