#PlanetPartners: Empowering communities to create sustainable futures

Working closely with partners towards a net zero-carbon Reading and helping communities get involved in shaping their own neighbourhoods means the 色狗导航 is supporting efforts to create a more sustainable future for towns and cities across the world.

The University鈥檚 institutional and research efforts are underpinned by the UN鈥檚 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are aimed at tackling societal and environmental challenges across the planet and are closely aligned with the University鈥檚 own strategy.

This May, the 色狗导航 is running a new #PlanetPartners campaign, inviting its entire community to share examples of work towards all the SDGs.

SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities encompasses making towns and cities around the world inclusive, safe, sustainable and resilient to pressures like climate change, now and in the future.

鈥淐ommunities, the people that live in them, and business are all vital partners in tackling the impact of climate change locally and regionally." - Professor Tim Dixon, Reading 2050 lead, 色狗导航

Examples of work by the University to address SDG11 include:

• Supporting Reading鈥檚 economic growth and evolution as a smart and sustainable city through the . Related work includes supporting Reading Borough Council with its roadmap towards a net zero-carbon Reading by 2030, and helping monitor air pollution in heavy traffic areas in Berkshire, to help develop solutions for cleaner air.
• Producing the on the health impacts of climate change in Reading, providing authorities with an overview of the main challenges facing people in the region.
• Researching ways to get more people involved in planning decisions for their neighbourhoods. has looked at why participation in these decision remains low despite pledges by local authorities.
• Providing for staff and students to help get cars off the roads and aid a greener future for Reading.
• Winning Green Flag Awards for our Whiteknights campus for 10 years running. These recognise the quality of the green space on the campus, which is open to the public as well as those working and studying on campus.
• Beginning work with Historic England, analysing climate risk to historic buildings and archaeological sites in England. This adds to work with communities in Iraq, Iran and Jordan to help create sustainable development and incomes for people based on their rich cultural heritage.

Professor Tim Dixon, from the University鈥檚 School of the Built Environment and the University鈥檚 lead on the Reading 2050 project, said:  鈥淐ommunities, the people that live in them, and business are all vital partners in tackling the impact of climate change locally and regionally.

鈥淭hrough our work to support the Reading 2050 vision, the Reading Climate Change Emergency Strategy, and the ADEPT Thames Valley Berkshire Live Lab project, the University also plays a crucial role in what we might call a 鈥榪uadruple helix鈥�, working in partnership with people, industry and local government to bring innovative thinking to real world problems.鈥�

The UN鈥檚 SDGs incorporate themes across the 鈥榝ive Ps鈥�: People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace and Partnership. These align with the 色狗导航鈥檚 own strategic themes: Community, Excellence, Sustainability and Engagement.

This campaign follows the publication of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2021, in which Reading participated for the first time and ranked in the top 200 globally, which scored participating universities on their support of the individual SDGs.

#PlanetPartners

The University鈥檚 latest campaign is a continuation of the #PlanetPartners campaign launched by the University in October 2019, which is highlighting ways the University is working with global partners on projects that benefit the environment.

Follow the campaign and share your examples of work  on Twitter: | Facebook: | Instagram: | LinkedIn: | TikTok: using the hashtags #PlanetPartners and #sdgoals