United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 13: Climate action
Local education programmes on climate. Provide local education programmes or campaigns on climate change risks, impacts, mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
UniSC offers a variety of local education programs and initiatives focused on climate change and sustainability. UniSC is known for its commitment to environmental studies and sustainability, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to address global challenges.
- Courses and Programs: UniSC provides specialised courses such as the Bachelor of Environmental Management and the Bachelor of Environmental Science, which include modules on climate change mitigation, adaption and impact reduction. UniSC is one of the only Australian universities to offer a postgraduate Master of Climate Change Adaption by Research. These programs equip students with the knowledge and skills to address environmental challenges, including helping businesses and governments understand and make informed decisions about preserving natural ecosystems and resources, balancing the needs of humans and nature. UniSC developed the online course "Life Below Water: Conservation, Current Issues, Possible Solutions" on the Future Learn platform, one of the modules focuses on climate change. It has had over 1,900 people enrol since 2021.
- Workshops and Public Lectures: The university organizes workshops and public lectures that focus on various aspects of climate change. These events are designed to educate the community on the importance of climate change and provide practical solutions for impact reduction. UniSC staff are often asked to be invited speakers at other universities and conferences to share their expert opinion and research along with UniSC-wide events like National Science Week.
- Community Engagement: UniSC actively engages with local communities through initiatives to promote climate change risks and educate the public on early warning signs.
For example:- Sustainability tours are conducted for local businesses, schools and the wider community highlighting climate change initiatives on campus
- Sustainability week encourages the community to engage with events on campus that include tours and presentations on the UniSC water battery.
- Research and Development: UniSC’s commitment to sustainability and mitigating climate change is also reflected in its research projects, which often involve community participation. These projects aim to develop innovative climate change solutions and share findings with the broader community to enhance local efforts:
- Coastal Governance research, which focuses on identifying social-ecological vulnerabilities in coastal areas and developing innovative governance approaches to manage these vulnerabilities. This project is crucial as it addresses the declining condition of the Australian coast, which faces increasing threats from global environmental changes and urbanization. The research aims to explore new ways to protect coastal values and improve the management of coastal environments.
- Green Infrastructure project, which aims to mitigate heat stress in aged care facilities through the use of urban greenery. This project involves installing heat sensors and conducting integrated heat, access, and safety audits at aged care facilities to develop cost-effective design options for reducing heat stress. The research has produced guidelines for preparing heat adaptation plans, which are applicable not only to aged care facilities but also to healthcare facilities, parks, and street planning.
- Climate change adaptation initiatives are increasingly being developed using both external and local resources, particularly in developing countries where vulnerable communities face significant risks. This is especially critical for remote areas with limited access to national and global resources. A project on a remote island in Fiji aims to gather insights from twenty years of community-based resource management and development, highlighting the importance of locally-driven initiatives for effective climate adaptation and sustainable development.
UniSC also offers various local education initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting action on climate change. These initiatives often involve collaborations with local communities, government agencies, and industry partners to develop practical solutions for climate-related challenges.
Summary
These local programs are designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the environmental issues facing our world today and the strategies needed to address them. The university’s focus on sustainability is reflected in its curriculum, research projects, and community engagement efforts.