On the 26 June, the University of Kent Estates Department launches its new sustainability project: FutureProof.

FutureProof builds on the successes of Green Impact and Green15 and looks at how staff and students can help deliver a University of the future. By challenging each department to review their impacts against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), FutureProof aims to inspire individuals, departments and the whole University community to take action in ensuring that our estate, our curriculum and our students are ready for the future.

The SDGs are 17 goals that outline the vision for a sustainable world by 2030. The 17 goals and underlying targets were created and signed by 193 countries at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. The goals seek to finish the job that was started by the Millennium Goals which ran from 2000 to 2015 and brought 850,000,000 people out of extreme poverty and yet saw carbon emissions increase by 9,850,000 kilotons.

In February the Vice-Chancellor signed the SDG Accord which commits the University to incorporate the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals into its operations and the teaching curriculum it delivers. FutureProof is the vehicle by which we seek to deliver this.

All departments across the University are eligible and encouraged to get involved with the project. To find out more please come and visit the Sustainability Team at the Estates Showcase in Darwin Conference Suite on the 26 June 10.00 – 15.00, or email sustainability@kent.ac.uk.