An open letter from the UM community to the UM Executive Board, 

The UN Secretary-General warned on 7 January 2021 that “We are headed for a catastrophic temperature rise of 3-5 [degrees Celsius] this century... making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century. It must be the top priority.” Climate change constitutes an existential threat. 

With deep concern, we observe that too few of the University’s resources and personnel are dedicated to identifying what we can do, locally and nationally, against the immediate threat of climate change. UM’s sustainability policies express the goal to integrate “sustainability in the DNA of the entire organisation by 2030”, but do not articulate concrete plans on how to achieve this.

We regret that the university's sustainability policy so far has mostly consisted of small-scale actions, such as Green Impact, a voluntary sustainability minor, and the purchase of carbon credits. However, projects aimed at a more sustainable functioning have been overruled or diluted because of conflicts with other university policies. If the university wants to reach its goal of being sustainable by 2030, structures and priorities must fundamentally change. 

We urge the university to investigate and adopt the following policies:

1. Strategy

   1. Create an overarching evidence-based strategy to become sustainable by 2030.

   2. Make a clear statement that we face an immediate crisis, with reference to climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

   3. Make sustainability policy a priority over other policies except where the core educational and research mission is jeopardised. 

2. Capacity

   1. Create a Sustainability Body with adequate resources to coordinate a transition to a sustainable university by 2030.

   2. Make structural reforms to include sustainability on every decision-making level, including at the faculty level, to ensure sufficient capacity for change.

   3. Empower and fund internal expertise to develop sustainability policies where possible instead of hiring external consultants.

3. Accountability

   1. Identify actionable short-term and long-term goals.

   2. Create the position of a Director of Sustainability, who will monitor sustainability policy and strategy including but not limited to overseeing the work of UM’s Sustainability Body. They work in cooperation with the Management Team and report to the Executive Board.

   3. Give co-decision-making power on UM sustainability policy to the University Council.

   4. Publicly report sustainability efforts in accordance with reporting standards.

We believe UM has the potential and ability to be a truly sustainable university by 2030. Now is the time for an ambitious and long-sighted UM climate agenda.

We are your greatest allies and stand ready to discuss and implement these policies with you.