APRU Certificate in Global Climate Change Leadership 2026
August 20, 2026 - September 11, 2026
Rethinking the City through Collective Research and Action
University of Oregon SCL webpage: https://gsi.uoregon.edu/apru-scl
Humanity is 55% urban, and will be 68% by 2050. If we are to learn to live more lightly on this planet, it will be by making cities more efficient, more green, less resource-intensive, cleaner, greener, and more livable for humans who derive so much benefit from being close to nature. Our biggest cities are in Pacific Rim societies, so the Association of Pacific Rim Universities’ solutions for city-landscape sustainability are solutions for the whole world.
Our Work
Our mission is to drive place based innovation and collaboration in sustainable cities and landscapes through education, research, and policy impact to create resilient, equitable, and vibrant communities.
The APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Program (SCL), led by the University of Oregon, brings together thought leaders, policymakers, and researchers from 21 member universities to address city-landscape interactions. Drawing on expertise in architecture, planning, environmental justice, and sustainability, the program focuses areas including climate adaptation, urban technologies, landscape biodiversity, and waste management to generate actionable insights for inclusive, adaptive urban systems. Its activities include:
- Knowledge Exchange – The annual conference connects experts to develop solutions for urban sustainability, climate adaptation, and resilient cities. It features collaborative Working Groups and a Student Symposium, which allows all participants to network and collaborate on future projects and/or publications.
- Research – Publications such as the Routledge Handbook on Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Pacific Rim (2023), Living with Water (2025), and numerous journal articles and funded projects.
- Capacity Building – Contributions to the UN-Habitat and UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Mayors’ Academy and live role-play simulations on global carbon negotiations.
SCL Activities in 2026
The 9th APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference (link), May 21–24, 2026
Program Website and Working Groups
SCL Cross-Disciplinary Guiding Research Principles
- We seek broad geopolitical representation across the Pacific Rim.
- We have different understandings and contexts for sustainability.
- We will address the needs of underrepresented communities and vulnerable populations.
- We recognize climate change as a grand challenge for human societies and earth systems. We want our work to be transformative.