As originally appeared in the Irish News, 3 November
Professor Ian Montgomery, Director of Sustainability at Ulster University
As a university, the need to transition to a green economy and society has become ever more apparent to us. As wildfires, flooding and other extreme weather conditions continue to make the national and international news, we are regularly reminded of the vulnerability of our planet and the need to support the fine balance of our competing ecosystems. That is why we need to work to make Belfast a greener city.
At Ulster, our research is focused on achieving a better and more sustainable future for all by challenging poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. Universities have a major role to play in driving research, education and innovation as well as stimulating action within communities and so, within our diverse research community, we are linking to sustainable development goals.
A key example of this is our Centre for Sustainable Technologies that undertakes research to design, create, develop, improve, demonstrate, and evaluate emerging, existing and alternative sustainable renewable energy, building design, construction materials, transport and environmental modification technologies.
COP26 is the single most important international summit of our generation. World leaders must match the rhetoric with firm action to ensure the next generation has a planet to be proud of. Ulster University has joined forces with Belfast City Council in a unique research partnership (Architects of Change) to make an impact on the climate change emergency, and are also supporting the challenge through our participation in the upcoming Belfast International Homecoming Conference.
This year, the well-known event is turning green to focus on the climate emergency and the shift to a more sustainable economy, including the creation of green collar jobs in clean energy, electric vessels, and hydrogen fuel. In our commitment to that future pipeline of talent for emerging careers we are actively embedding education for sustainable development into the curriculum as a programme design priority - supporting the next generation who will be most affected by the global climate crisis to have the skills needed to seek out solutions with confidence and conviction.
Belfast International Homecoming – The Green Edition - allows our city to harness the skills and creativity of our diaspora, bringing them together in a hybrid format to engage around this global crisis in a safe manner as we start to move away from the pandemic.
At our enhanced Belfast campus here in the city centre, as well as working closely with external partners on comprehensive sustainable travel options, our approach to sustainability in this new academic home extends from biodiversity green rooftops to tree planting; from renewable technologies to state-of-the-art energy efficient ventilation - all part of our commitment to delivering a healthy building for staff, students and visitors.
Belfast’s place in the world as a leader on social justice and climate issues cannot be denied as significant speakers such as Pekka Timonen, Mayor of the EU’s 2021 Green Capital Lahti, Finland, make their first visit to the city.
The resilience, perseverance, and forward-thinking nature of our people over the past 18 months must be channeled into our response to the climate emergency. We must ensure we leave the next generation a planet that is habitable with diverse wildlife and ecosystems. Conversations with our diaspora and leaders in education, research, community and business will allow us to strengthen our work of creating a green carbon neutral Belfast.