Climate change is a global emergency and a global problem that requires coordinated solutions at all levels, toward an economy with environmentally responsible habits. For 15 years, the Cooperation and Sustainable Development Office, directed by Dr. Sílvia Albareda, has organised the Cross-Disciplinary Sustainability Workshop, being fully aware of the problem and with the vision of promoting comprehensive sustainability, but more importantly, to train future socially responsible professionals. For 15 years, the Cooperation and Sustainable Development Office, directed by Dr. Sílvia Albareda, has organised the Cross-Disciplinary Sustainability Workshop, being fully aware of the problem and with the vision of promoting comprehensive sustainability, but more importantly, to train future socially responsible professionals. The purpose of the workshop, open to the entire university community, is to work in an interdisciplinary way on any issue linked to the sustainable development goals. This year, lecturers, external experts and students in different degree programmes were able to reflect and share research projects and teaching proposals around “Ethics and Climate Action.” 

On Tuesday, 14 November, more that 170 participants presented 37 research projects based on SDG 4, Quality Education; SDG 13, Climate Action; and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals. The presentations were evaluated by a panel of sustainability experts, made up of faculty and services staff members from the University along with external professionals.

The workshop ended with the lecture-discussion by Josep Garí, Senior Policy Adviser, UNDP - United Nations Development Programme. Under the title “Geopolitical consequences of the Paris Agreement,” the expert spoke on the importance of this treaty, which he highlighted as “the most important of this century,” both in terms of theme and the level of adherence, which is supported by 187 countries. “It is the treaty that will structure this century. The last century was marked by peace among peoples and now we focus on peace between humanity and the planet. A peace that is not going to be easy at all, but that is necessary,” Gari stated in front of a Aula Magna lecture theatre full of young students.

“We have very diverse planetary crises, but the climate crisis is the truly global one, so it is paradigmatic. Carbon is added as a new international metric, and that is why there is constant talk about decarbonization, which is part of the objectives of the main global companies,” the expert explained as he also congratulated UIC Barcelona for the initiative and all the students involved. 

In this line, Sílvia Albareda, director of the Cooperation and Sustainable Development Office, stressed the importance of this workshop for UIC Barcelona. “The Cross-DisciplinarySustainability Workshop is important for the University because it is vital to raise awareness among future professionals on the climate emergency problem in which we find ourselves and to achieve a change toward more responsible and sustainable consumption habits. It's not only about being alarmed by the problem, but also about looking for feasible solutions in a reasoned and participatory way,” the lecturer and researcher stated