Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management

Much progress has been made around the world in the field of sustainable development since the publication of Our Common Future in 1987, and since the summits held in Rio (1992 and 2012). The field of sustainable development as a whole, and sustainable development research in particular, has evolved substantially over the past 25 years. The end of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) marked the start of a new era, titled 'Sustainability 2.0'. At a time when the UN is stepping up efforts towards pursuing the sustainable development goals, sound research on sustainable development is required more than ever before.

One of the gaps still evident relates to universities' ability to perform high-quality sustainability research. The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme therefore contributes in various ways to member universities's efforts to consolidate their initiatives in the field of sustainable development. For instance:

• By increasing their research income: income from research projects may be increased by means of sustainable development research. Statistics show that sustainable development expertise clustered around research centres or programmes is more successful than ad hoc efforts and research bids made by individuals alone.
• By enhancing institutional research profiles in the field of sustainable development: at present, only a few universities already have an international and authoritative research profile in this field, even though many have great potential to develop it. This potential can be further optimised and increased by means of more coordinated approaches to bidding for and securing national and international funding for interdisciplinary and cross-faculty projects on matters related to sustainable development, and by increasing their visibility.
• By increasing the intake of PhD students: many universities have the potential to be attractive places for PhD students focusing on sustainability research, but at present – for various reasons – do not fully use it. The PhD programme to be led by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will help realise this potential, and offer the critical mass needed to train a new generation of sustainability experts across the whole spectrum of themes and topics associated with it.
• By increasing publication output: in addition to increasing income and profile-building, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will help its members achieve more substantial research outputs, which can be translated into the publication of more papers in indexed journals, as well as innovative books and book chapters. The International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education and the newly created World Sustainability Series, the leading book series on the topic, are some of the instruments to be used, as well as wider access to the world's leading journals on the environment and sustainable development matters. 

The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will consolidate and further develop the available know-how and profile on sustainable development among its member universities across the world, helping them take full advantage of the many possibilities for institutional consolidation and individual career development which sustainability research offers.

A working programme (2015–2020) for the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme has been prepared and is now under implementation. It will be coordinated by Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), but each member university is autonomous in respect of their individual activities, funding and operations.

The main aim of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme is to establish a platform through which member universities can undertake more research on matters related to sustainable development, according to an agreed-upon work plan and agenda. 

The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will ensure that energetic, committed experts at member universities have a sound basis for attracting and undertaking research projects, training PhD students, publishing more in indexed journals, organising high-profile events, working more closely with their peers (a clear requirement in the sustainable development research community) and hence strengthening their personal and institutional profiles.

In addition, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will strive to develop the ability to leverage organisational resources and maximise the benefits research projects may bring to member universities. The specific aims of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme are as follows:

• Assemble interdisciplinary, cross-faculty teams among its member universities that focus on sustainable development, with a keen interest in bidding for national and international sustainability research projects
• Set-up and maintain a working environment that encourages international cooperation, supports institutional and inter-institutional project development, and hence increases the chances of success in project bidding and acquisition
• Link and engage with the sustainability research community at member universities in the joint training of PhD students and the organisation of specific, strategic events
• Catalyse and facilitate the production of high-quality joint publications in indexed journals, as well as in ground-breaking books and book chapters, in cooperation with well-established publishers

Operationally, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will develop project proposals which can be submitted to national and international agencies and funding bodies. It will also provide key support in promoting cooperation in the field of sustainable development between the member universities, in a way never seen before.

The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme focuses on sustainable development as a cross-cutting issue and on specific topics central to the international sustainability research agenda. The list of topics includes but is not limited to:

• Sustainable energy production (renewable energy) and use (energy efficiency)
• Sustainable production and consumption
• Sustainable water use and management
• Sustainable waste management
• Sustainable transport
• Sustainable development and climate change (including adaptation and resilience)
• Education for sustainable development and curriculum innovation in sustainable development
• Sustainability in higher education institutions (e.g. campus greening)

Other topics may be added to the list in accordance with the expertise of the member universities and interested colleagues.

Apart from the fact that joining a programme of such high calibre will greatly enhance the profile of member universities, some other key factors which speak for joining the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme are as follows:

•     The high level of interest in the topic, which is likely to be maintained in the future
•     The large demand-supply gap seen in respect of sustainability research
•     The extensive availability of funding to support sustainable development research from public and private bodies
•     The existence of ambitious government policies in the field, whose implementation depends at least partly on research
•     The broad existence of financing options available in respect of project funding (e.g. as project coordinator, as project partner, as external consultancy, etc.)
•     The keen interest from industry, banks and other sectors in the topic
•     The opportunity to train PhD students, produce publications and run influential events at member universities

At present, global expenditures on sustainable development research (including the areas outlined under 'Topics') are estimated to be approximately USD 1 billion per year. The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will help unlock substantial funding possibilities for integrated projects on sustainability issues through which, for instance, universities and governments, or universities and industry, may work together.

The founding organisations of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme are Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), where the programme's secretariat is based, and the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany).  A Memorandum of Understanding is signed with partner universities (via a letter of commitment) in order to formalise their involvement in the programme.  Partner universities can then refer to themselves as members of IUSDRP and can take part in all its activities, organise or co-organise events, and coordinate or be partners in IUSDRP-led projects.

The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will bring together researchers at partner universities with an interest in sustainable development research and its ramifications. The aim is to reinforce their profile and allow them to take greater advantage of the many benefits this topic offers. 

The work of the programme will be overseen by an International Advisory Board composed of some of the world's leading experts on sustainability, who will provide advice, guidance and support the implementation of the programme's activities.  

The operational components of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme involve five interrelated core tasks:

• Project bidding and implementation: This is the core element of the programme, where partners will apply and/or co-apply for funding and undertake projects on matters related to sustainable development. 
• Publications: The programme will create publishing opportunities in the field of sustainable development, including special issues in indexed journals, the establishment of teams of authors to work on joint papers, and the launching of ground-breaking book projects.
• Training: The programme will seek to unleash the leadership potential of partner universities in terms of training as a whole, and MSc/PhD training in particular, on sustainable development issues. Here emphasis will be given to the provision of training on methods, approaches, strategies and the execution of projects related to sustainable development, at various levels. 
• Know-how transfer: The programme will, by means of practical projects, transfer the best available know-how and expertise on sustainable development available in the partner universities to others, helping them advance the cause of sustainability at the institutional level.
• Institutional strengthening: By means of networking, the programme will help build systems and networks that can respond most effectively to emerging funding opportunities, and hence strengthen the member organisations. 

A flagship of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme is the 'World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities' (WSSDU) series, which is the leading event in the field. Organised bi-annually, WSSDU brings together the leading organisations and experts on sustainability in higher education, providing a unique opportunity for information exchange, networking and the documentation of project work and dissemination of results from research projects. This is complemented by the 'World Sustainable Development Teach-In Days' (also a bi-annual event), the use of the World Sustainability Series (published by Springer, one of the world's top-five scientific publishers) to produce high-calibre books, and the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, the world's leading academic journal in the field.

Thanks to its integrative and truly international approach, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will achieve effective mobilisation of staff and resources, and use strategic events to attract the attention of scientists, policymakers, community members and media representatives. Ultimately, it will broaden awareness about the partner universities and their sustainable development research capabilities.

The World List of Sustainability Researchers, prepared by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP), aims to connect and showcase the scientific profile, areas of interest and academic achievements of sustainability researchers around the world. For data protection reasons, e-mail addresses are not always included, unless explicitly requested. The contact details of all experts can be found by the usual search engines. If you wish to be added to the list, or have any questions, please contact the IUSDRP Team at: iusdrp (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
 

The PhD students currently working on sustainable development matters will be the ones leading future trends in a 2030-2050 scale, when they will occupy key roles in academia, industry, and other sectors. It is therefore vital that they get the best possible training. One important component of this training is the interaction and exchange of information among their peers.

Unfortunately, many doctoral students work on their themes in an isolated manner, detached from other interdisciplinary groups. Also, they seldom have the opportunity to write side papers for top journals with a qualified team or to discuss their works with international PhD students and experts from outside their organisations. Yet, much could be achieved by such an interaction. It is on the basis of the need to address this gap that the World PhD Students Sustainability Network is being organised.

How can I join the World PhD Students Sustainability Network?
In order to register on the World PhD Students Sustainability Network, interested persons should send an expression of interest containing the following information to the organising team:

First name:
Surname:
Institution:
Country:
Contact e-mail:
ORCID (optional):
Title of the PhD work:
Summary (200 words) of the project:
These details should be sent to: iusdrp (at) ls.haw-hamburg (dot) de

FAQ World PhD Students Sustainabilty Network

ResearchGate Ranking List based on the number of publications

Head of IUSDRP
Prof. Dr. (mult.) Dr. h.c. (mult.) Walter Leal
Director of the Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainability and Climate Change Management” (FTZ-NK)
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Room 0.39 / AS4
T +49.40.428 75-6313
walter.leal2 (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de

Executive Director
MSc. Laís Viera Trevisan
Research and Transfer Centre FTZ-NK
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Room: 0.33
Lais.VieraTrevisan (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de

Executive Director
Dr. Joao Eustachio
Research and Transfer Centre FTZ-NK
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Room: 0.36
Joao.Eustachio (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de

Executive Director
Dr. Amanda Salvia
Research and Transfer Centre FTZ-NK
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Amanda.Lange-Salvia (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
 

Over and above the conventional membership, IUSDRP offers higher education institutions interested in and active on matters related to sustainable development, the opportunity to join IUSDRP via a Premium Membership. Premium members will have:

• Status as a priority partner in the preparation of research projects and other project applications
• Status as a priority partner in participating in journal articles
• Status as a priority partner in the organisation of scientific events
• Revenues from research projects to which member universities will apply together

Benefits of Premium Membership

NO PROJECT PREPARATION COSTS: Premium Members will be waived of the fees for project preparation and application bids. Up to two waivers can be redeemed per year. 

INCREASED PUBLIC VISIBILITY: Premium Members will have the exclusive opportunity to host events with the support of the IUSDRP Staff,  increasing their visibility nationally and Europewide. 

ADVICE AND SUPPORT: Premium Members will have access to advice and the support of IUSDRP Staff and network when it comes down to preparing projects, events and papers, during the Premium Members’ monthly meetings. 

PRIORITY PARTNER: Premium Members will be considered thematic leaders and priority partners in publications, exclusive hosting of expert conferences and European and international project bids.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Premium Members will have access to exclusive scientific and sustainability-related workshops, seminars, and mentoring sessions, to develop the skills of their staff. 

MEMBER-ONLY DISCOUNTS: Premium Members will enjoy two full waivers in registrations for IUSDRP-related conferences, and 50% discount on additional registrations.

Annual Membership Fees

With an annual Premium Membership fee of Euro 2.500, all features listed above are covered.

BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER NOW!

To become a Premium Member, contact us at: iusdrp (at) ls.haw-hamburg (dot) de

List of members (2024–10)

Interactive Google Map with members

Current IUSDRP events

2024: Beyond the Just Transition-critical inquiries, Environmental Sciences Europe

2024: Sustainable innovation – Case studies from product development, Sustainable Development

2024: University rankings and sustainable development: the state of the art, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

2024: University Forests and Carbon Sequestration, Discovery Sustainability

2024: Managing waste packaging for a sustainable future:,a strategic and efficiency analysis in the European context, Environment. Development and Sustainability

2024: Enhancing the contribution of higher education institutions to sustainable development research, Sustainable Development

2024: Assessing the readiness of Greek municipalities to manage bioplastics, Discovery Sustainability
2024: Energy poverty in African countries: An assessment of trends and policies, Energy Research & Social Science

2024: Higher education and sustainable entrepreneurship -The state of the art and a look to the future, Sustainable Development

2024: War in Ukraine: an overview of environmental impacts and consequences for human health, Frontiers in Sustainable Resource Management

2024: The role of African universities in handling clmate change, Environmental Sciences Europe

2024: The Role of Universities in Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe. Scientific Reports

2024: An assessment of priorities in handling climate change impacts on infrastructures, Scientific Reports

2024: Design thinking for sustainable development: A bibliometric analysis and case study research, Journal of Cleaner Production

2024: The role of artificial intelligence in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Fostering sustainable cities and communities, Cities

2024: Handling the growing problem of offshore food waste, Marine Policy

2024: Implementing sustainability in teaching: The role of sustainability leadership and transformational leadership in the context of higher education institutions, Sustainable Development

2024: Climate-friendly healthcare: reducing the impacts of the healthcare sector on the world’s climate, Sustainability Science

2024: Using artificial intelligence to implement the UN sustainable development, Int. Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology

2024: Assessing the provisions for sustainability in economics degree programmes, Int. Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

2024: Implications of consumer orientation towards environmental sustainability, Current Research in Environmental Sustainability

2024: Transformative organisational learning for sustainability

2024: The added value of partnerships in implementing the UN sustainable development goals, Journal of Cleaner Production

2024: Prosumers and sustainable development, Sustainable Futures

2023: Digital transformation and sustainable development in higher education in a post-pandemic world, Int. Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology

2023: Responsible management education – The leadership role of PRME, International Journal of Management Education.

2023: Assessing ethics and sustainability standards in corporate practices, Social Responsibility Journal

2023: The central role of climate action in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Scientific Reports

 2023: Towards a greater engagement of universities in addressing climate change challenges, Scientific Reports

2023: How the War in Ukraine Affects Food Security, Foods

2023: Sustainable supply chain management and the UN Sustainable Development Goals- exploring synergies towards sustainable development, Total Quality Management

2023: Integrating climate change practices in a circular economy context – The perspective from chemical enterprises, Sustainable Development

 2023: Medical Waste and the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine, Environmental Challenges

2023: Influences of the Covid-19 on the impact factor of a number of environment-sustainability related journals, Int. Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

2023: Mapping universities-communities partnerships in the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, Frontiers Envi. Science

2023: Digital transformation and sustainable development in higher education in a postpandemic world, Environment, Development and Sustainability

2023: Perceptions of the academic community on the performance, of sustainable development initiatives in higher education, Sustainable Development

2023: International trends on transformative learning for urban sustainability, Discovery Sustainability 

2023: Using data science for sustainable development, Sustainable Development

2023: Climate Change: why higher education matters? Science of the Total Environment

2023: When the alarm bells ring- Why the UN sustainable development goals may not be achieved by 2023, Journal of Cleaner Production

2023: Low carbon futures- assessing the status of decarbonisation efforts at universities-Energy, Sustainability and Society

2023: Ensuring Sustainability in Internationalisation Efforts at Higher Education Institutions, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

2022: An Overview of the Engagement of higher educations Institutions in the Implementation of the UN SDGs, Journal of Cleaner Production

2022: Planetary health and health education in Brazil: Facing inequalities, One Health

2022: Linking sustainability and spirituality - A preliminary assessment in pursuit of a sustainable and ethically correct world, Journal of Cleaner Production

2022: Barriers to Institutional Social Sustainability, Journal Sustainability Science

2022: Empty promises- why declarations and international cooperation on sustainable development often fail to deliver, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology

2022: An assessment of requirements in investments, new technologies and infrastructures to achieve the SDGs, Environmental Sciences Europe

2022: Pursuing Sustainable Development Across Disciplines, Handbook of Best Practices of Sustainability at University Level, Springer

2022: Addressing the UN SDGs in sustainability reports: An analysis of Latin,American oil and gas companies, Environmental Challenges

2022: Deploying digitalisation and artifcial intelligence in sustainable development research, Environment, Development and Sustainability

2022: Clustering public urban green spaces, Environmental Science and Policy

2022: Transient Poverty, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology

2021: A comparison of waste education in schools and,colleges across five European cities, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology

2021: Sustainability Science for the Future, Handbook of Sustainability Science for the Future

2021: Social innovation for sustainable development: assessing current trends, International Journal of Sustainable Development &,World Ecology

2021: Sustainability practices at higher education institutions in Asia, IJSHE

2021: Understanding. Responses to Climate-Related Water Scarcity in Africa, Science of the Total Environment

2021: Poverty: A central barrier to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals- Environmental Science and Policy

2021: Challenges in Sustainable Land Use Management 

2021: Walter Leal Filho, Luiza Olim de Sousa, and Rudi Pretorius:  Future Prospects of Sustainable Development in Africa;

Sustainable Development in Africa. World Sustainability Series, Springer, Cham. ISBN: 9783030746933

2021: Mapping sustainability initiatives in higher education institutions in Latin America, in Journal of Cleaner Production

2021: The COVID-19 pandemic and single-use plastic waste in households: A preliminary study,  in Science of the Total Environment

2021: Higher education and food waste: assessing current trends, in International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology

2021: Buoyancy Energy Storage Technology: An energy storage solution for islands, coastal regions, offshore wind power and hydrogen compression, in Journal of Energy Storage

2021: A framework for sustainable and integrated municipal solid waste management: Barriers and critical factors to developing countries,  Journal of Cleaner Production

2021: Deep Seabed Mining: A Note on Some Potentials and Risks to the Sustainable Mineral Extraction from the Oceans, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

2021: The Unsustainable Use of Sand: Reporting on a Global Proble, Sustainability

2021: Holistic integration of sustainability at universities: evidences from Colombia, Journal of Cleaner Production

2021:  A Framework for the Implementation of the  Sustainable Development Goals in University Programmes, Journal of Cleaner Production

2021: Trends in Scientific Publishing on Sustainability in Higher Education

2021: Towards a common future revising the evolution of university based sustainability research literature

2021: COVID‑19: the impact of a global crisis on sustainable development teaching, in Environment, Development and Sustainability

2021: Higher education and food waste: assessing current trends, in International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology

2020: COVID-19, sustainable development and higher education: towards a recovery path', in International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

2020: University Teaching Staff and  Sustainable Development: an assessment of competences, Sustainability Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00868-w

2020: Governance and Sustainable Development at higher education institutions, Environment, Development and Sustainability https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00859-y

2020: Reviewing the role of ecosystems services in the sustainability of the urban environment: A multi-country analysis, in Journal of Cleaner Production, ELSEVIER

2019: Climate change education for universities: A conceptual framework from an international study. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 226, 20 July 2019, pp. 1092-1101 

2019: Climate Change Scepticism at Universities: A Global Study. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2981. 

The Role of Green and Sustainability Offices in Fostering Sustainability Efforts at Higher Education Institutions. Journal of Cleaner Production 

Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability teaching at universities: Falling behind or getting ahead of the pack, Journal of Cleaner Production 232 (2019) pp. 285-294.

Sustainability and procurement practices in higher education institutions: Barriers and drivers. Journal of Cleaner Production 231 (2019) pp. 1267-1280.

Implementing Innovation on Environmental Sustainability at Universities Around the World. Sustainability 2019, 11(14), 3807;

Sustainable Development education in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. DOI: 10.1080/13504509.2020.1721378.

Channels of collaboration for citizen science and the sustainable development goals. In Journal of Cleaner Production. Volume 264, 10 August 2020

An analysis of the insertion of sustainability elements in undergraduate design courses offered by Brazilian higher education institutions: An exploratory study. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 272, 1 November 2020, 122733 

COVID-19 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Threat to Solidarity or an Opportunity? Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5343; 

Viewpoint: accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, March 2020

Sustainable Development Policies as Indicators and Pre-Conditions for Sustainability Efforts at Universities: fact or fiction?, Journal of Sustainability in Higher Educationustainable Development Policies

The integration of social responsibility and sustainability in practice: Exploring attitudes and practices in Higher Education Institutions, Journal of Cleaner Productionhe Integration of Social Responsibility and Sustainability

The role of transformation in learning and education for sustainability, Journal of Cleaner Productionransformation

Using the Sustainable Development Goals Towards a Better Understanding of 3 Sustainability Challenges, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology (2018)