UN-backed initiative unites universities for global sustainability

Mei Kimura
2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 15 minutes ago

UN-backed initiative unites universities for global sustainability | Photo: Baim Hanif

In a world grappling with climate change and inequality, a UN-backed initiative launched in July 2025 is transforming higher education. The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) empowers universities to weave sustainability into their curricula and operations, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This programme fosters global collaboration, offering free resources to equip students with skills to address climate action, quality education, and partnerships. By positioning academia as a driver of innovation, it tackles pressing global challenges, ensuring a sustainable future through education.

The state of sustainability in higher education

The integration of sustainability into higher education is accelerating, driven by data from the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, which assessed 2,526 universities across 130 countries for their SDG contributions. Institutions like Western Sydney University excel in aligning research with SDG 13 (Climate Action), while the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025 evaluated 1,797 universities on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, with the University of Toronto leading. Quantitative insights reveal progress: 82% of faculties at the University of British Columbia now offer sustainability-focused courses, and 30% of the University of Toronto’s undergraduate modules in 2023-24 incorporated SDG-related themes, per institutional reports.

Challenges remain, particularly in systemic integration. A 2024 Sustainable Earth Reviews study highlights that while 67% of universities prioritise operational sustainability, such as energy-efficient campuses, only 43% consistently embed SDGs into academic curricula. Underfunded institutions in the Global South face technological and financial constraints, with just 28% of African universities participating in global sustainability networks like HESI, according to UNESCO’s 2024 data. Despite this, student demand is robust: a 2023 global survey found 70% of students want more SDG-focused education, underscoring the urgency for equitable resource distribution.

Real initiatives and case studies

HESI, established in 2012 and co-chaired in 2024–2025 by UN DESA, UNESCO IESALC, UN University, and the Sulitest Association, drives interdisciplinary collaboration. Its 2025 Global Forum, scheduled for 21 July, will address SDGs 3 (Good Health), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work), 14 (Life Below Water), and 17 (Partnerships) through workshops integrating systems thinking and scenario modelling. The HESI Networking Forum on 21 May 2025 convened 140 representatives across 68 virtual breakout rooms, fostering partnerships to scale SDG solutions, as reported by UN University.

Practical examples abound. The University of Cape Town’s 2019 sustainability strategy targets net-zero carbon by 2030, leveraging life-cycle assessments to optimise energy use and offering open-access sustainability courses. The United Arab Emirates University’s Centre for Environment and Water employs advanced geospatial modelling to align research with SDG 6 (Clean Water) and SDG 7 (Affordable Energy), supporting UAE Vision 2030. In Central Asia, the Sustainable Lifestyles University Network (SLUN), launched in 2022, unites 28 institutions to advance SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) through agent-based modelling of sustainable behaviours, with community outreach amplifying impact.

Future-oriented efforts include HESI’s Action Group on “Future of Higher Education and AI,” launched by UN University in 2025, which explores machine learning applications in sustainability education, such as predictive analytics for resource allocation. Historically, HESI’s 2012 Rio+20 commitments from over 300 universities, representing 33% of voluntary pledges, set a precedent for scaling academic impact.

The role of global society in sustainable education

Global collaboration underpins HESI’s success, aligning with SDG 17’s emphasis on partnerships. The HESI Community, with 862 member institutions as of March 2024, spans Africa, Asia, and Latin America, integrating diverse perspectives through platforms like the SDG Publishers Compact. UNESCO’s 2024 report notes that 62% of HESI members share open-access resources, enhancing equity in knowledge dissemination. Posts on social media reflect this global ethos, highlighting academia’s role in uniting stakeholders to address sustainability challenges.

Beyond academia, partnerships like the World Economic Forum’s GAEA initiative connect universities with industry to develop scalable solutions, such as blockchain-based carbon tracking and sustainable aviation fuels. These collaborations bridge research and policy, ensuring solutions are both data-driven and inclusive. For instance, the UN Environment Programme’s support for HESI’s Green Learning Network facilitates capacity-building in the Global South, addressing disparities where only 15% of low-income institutions have access to advanced sustainability tools, per 2024 UN data.

A sustainable future through education

The UN-backed HESI initiative positions higher education as a cornerstone of global sustainability. By embedding SDGs into teaching, research, and operations, universities are cultivating leaders to tackle climate change, inequality, and other systemic issues. Despite challenges like equitable access, HESI’s data-driven approach, leveraging partnerships and emerging technologies like AI, offers a scalable model. With only 17% of SDGs on track for 2030, per the 2024 UN Progress Report, academia’s role is vital. Sustained global collaboration will ensure universities drive innovation for a just and sustainable future.

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