Universities’ own functions and administration create a responsible and sustainable world

Universities’ management, administration and campus activities are in line with the sustainable development goals

Sustainable development and responsibility are integrated into all activities of the universities. In addition to the strategic outlines, clear implementation plans, responsible parties, indicators and monitoring are also needed. The management, staff, students and student unions are engaged in universities’ sustainability and responsibility work by involving the different actors in the drawing up of sustainability assessments, plans, objectives and criteria.

The following concrete measures must be taken:

• Universities integrate sustainable thinking into all of their activities: management and remuneration systems, work plans, recruitment criteria, agreements and the development of staff competence are based on the principles of sustainable development and responsibility.
• Universities commit themselves to inspiring and encouraging their students and staff to promote sustainable development and responsibility and to familiarising them with the principles of these.
• Universities act responsibly in their investment activities, respecting international norms and human rights. Universities and their partners commit themselves to the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), in which the points of view related to the environment, society and good governance are taken into account.Universities set clear and measurable objectives for the sustainability and responsibility of their investments. 
• Universities include the objectives of sustainable development and responsibility in their procurement strategies and also develop their procurement competence in cooperation with each other. The assessment of the responsibility of procurements is improved and the human rights risks and environmental risks caused by the procurements are taken into account in each procurement decision.

Universities reduce their harmful effects on climate and nature, strive for becoming nature positive, and support national and international nature and climate goals

In all their activities, the goal of universities is to not weaken the environment: nature and climate. Universities recognise that merely calculating the carbon footprint and reducing carbon emissions is too narrow a perspective when it comes to global environmental challenges. Universities see environmental issues as a whole in which climate and nature goals are considered side by side, while being aware of the potential conflicts and making every endeavour to resolve them. Universities’ primary method of striving for the nature-positive goal is to reduce the harmful effects on nature. Universities see calculations of carbon and nature footprints also as subjects of research whose principles are critically examined and further developed.

The following concrete measures must be taken:

• Universities ensure that the objective of carbon neutrality or the claims made about achieving it do not succumb to false or misleading arguments. If universities make statements on carbon neutrality, the statements must comply with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and include at least direct emissions, electricity, heating and cooling materials, work/business travel, water, waste, procurements (goods and service procurements), properties (upkeep, maintenance), construction, investments, and journeys between home and workplace.
• Universities commit themselves to the carbon footprint calculation targets and methods of Finnish higher education institutions detailed by the Finn-ARMA Network’s climate and nature working group. The calculation is based on emission categories (Scope) in accordance with the GHG Protocol (2011, 2015).
• The nature-positive goal is promoted both through universities’ own internal measures and through the cooperation and impact of universities.
• Universities develop the methods of nature footprint calculation and pilot models.
• The possibilities for ecological compensation are investigated as part of the universities’ roadmap towards the nature-positive goal, while actively reducing harmful effects to nature and pursuing a more sustainable operating culture and society.

Universities work actively to promote equality, equity and well-being

Systematic work must be done continuously to promote equality, equity, diversity and accessibility. Universities commit themselves to a debate, education, practices and activities aimed at preventing subconscious prejudices and discrimination.

Sustainable operating models require sustainable conditions. By reducing temporary employment relationships, universities create better preconditions for performing its work and basic tasks.

The following concrete measures must be taken:

• Universities identify and remove practices and structures that produce and maintain inequality. Universities develop clear methods and objectives for eradicating racism, discrimination, bullying and harassment from the university community and pay special attention to the verbalisation and documentation of all discrimination.
• Universities promote their staff’s and the entire community’s awareness of and knowledge about equity, inclusion and work against racism so that every member of the community can and has the courage to intervene if problems occur. Each member of the university community is encouraged to build a safer space and an inclusive community for everyone through their own actions.
• Universities ensure opportunities to participate and equal daily working and studying conditions for all their members. Universities pay more attention to different life situations by enabling flexible ways to study and participate, for example, to people with chronic diseases, learning difficulties and families and for students with a single-parent background.  
• Universities participate in the societal debate actively. Together and separately, they present comments that support equality and equity.
• Universities promote research on equality and equity.