APRU conference shows the way with carbon-offset initiative
June 26, 2024

This article was featured on Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland webpage on June 25, 2024.

01

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities is playing its part in climate change mitigation by carbon offsetting its annual presidents’ meeting in Auckland.

With sustainability a key focus of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities’ (APRU) Annual Presidents’ Meeting, being hosted by the University of Auckland, the alliance of leading research-driven universities is walking the talk.

Around 130 global delegates are in New Zealand for the event, and the APRU is offsetting the carbon emissions associated with travelling here.

APRU Chief Executive, Professor Thomas Schneider, made the announcement on day two of the event, saying, for the first time, APRU is offsetting 420 tonnes of carbon emissions. This will occur through its contribution to Canada’s BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative. (See video here.)

The move is part of APRU’s sustainability efforts to mitigate carbon travel costs associated with numerous international conferences held annually.

Vice-Chair of APRU and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland, Professor Dawn Freshwater, says the idea is something that could work well for other international conferences held in Aotearoa.

“This initiative could set a benchmark for conferences held in New Zealand,” she said. “It demonstrates the collaborative, thought leadership approach of this group of universities.”

The BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative has protected unique West Coast forests in Canada by deferring timber harvesting on 40,000 hectares across Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and Coastal British Columbia for at least 25 years.

 

Related Articles
Introducing the APRU Steering Committee 2024-2025 and APRU Ambassador
more
Pacific Rim climate change conference calls for united front
more
Think like a fish: an ocean-centric vision
more
Global university leaders in Auckland for thinktank on sustainability
more
Women in leadership gather from Pacific Rim universities
more
The University of Hong Kong hosts APRU Presidents’ Meeting on Sustainable Future Solutions
more
APRU ends pandemic hiatus with first physical meeting at NTU Singapore and highlights urgency to collaborate through international university networks
more
1
7