Creating a training program on sustainability

When I began researching ecological transition, sustainability, and other related concepts, I quickly realized it wasn't just about preserving the little bugs, from ants to polar bears. While connected issues like animal welfare were already significant to me, the broader impacts were even more profound. My readings revealed that beyond recognizing these challenges, there were opportunities for society to make different choices. I found the solutions and their potential to unite people more inspiring than anything else.

But how can we motivate a society to make all the necessary adjustments? It starts with providing comprehensive information to facilitate change. As citizens, finding reliable data about sustainability amid the vast amount of available material can be a daunting task. Furthermore, the renowned IPBES and IPCC assessment reports are often considered difficult to understand.

Consequently, I am proud to be part of an initiative launching in October 2024: a training program for the 16,000 staff members at the Université Paris-Saclay. This program, which will be deployed under the Creative Commons license, aims to extend its reach even further.

Together with other university departments and the former Vice-President in charge of sustainable development, we have developed a unique training program based on the IPBES and IPCC assessment reports, incorporating various learning mechanisms.

This program will provide our staff with a common base of knowledge, offering precise and trustworthy data to understand the consequences of climate change and biodiversity decline, how and why these issues are occurring, and what can be done to address this urgent situation.

We hope our staff will recognize the need for systemic transformations and see that change can lead to new and enjoyable habits. While the goal isn't to enforce immediate personal lifestyle changes, we hope it will encourage them to support and contribute even more to the university's sustainable initiatives.

Laurie-Anne Escudeiro works in sustainable development at Université Paris-Saclay. She is 32 years old with a degree in law and a master’s degree in corporate social responsibility. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, crocheting, and reading a wide variety of essays. This passion for reading sparked her interest in sustainable development, leading her to her current career in the field.