Home / Our Director / 2030 Agenda
2030 Agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were created at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 to address the environmental, political and economic challenges of the planet. But it was not until September 2015 that the United Nations Member States adopted the new SDGs. Just two months later, the Paris Agreement to fight climate change was approved, which, for the first time, committed all countries to reducing emissions that would allow us to stay well below the 2°C limit.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their 169 targets are interconnected, meaning that the success of one affects that of others. Responding to the threat of climate change requires good natural resources management, gender equality and health improvements; this will also help eradicate poverty. These targets seek to foster peace in inclusive societies that reduce inequalities and help economies prosper.
The Institute of Ecology is responsible for generating and integrating scientific knowledge and strengthening human resources through its basic research projects on ecology, biodiversity and evolution, and its sustainability projects. Our work seeks to promote innovation and technological development, and our projects have potentially or directly promoted one or more of the SDGs. An analysis of our current research projects shows that they mainly contribute to the following goals:
- Ø SDG 1 No poverty
- Ø SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation
- Ø SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities
- Ø SDG 13 Climate action
- Ø SDG 15 Life on land
The Institute of Ecology is an active member of the UNAM's University Network for Sustainability (RUS for its Spanish acronym), an initiative of the Institutional Development Office and the University Coordination for Sustainability which seeks to promote a constant exchange of ideas and proposals to ensure that our campuses transit towards sustainability. Our institutes contributes to the RUS with actions related to SDGs 6, 7, 12 and 15:
- Ø SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation
Thanks to an agreement signed with PUMAGUA we have two drinking water dispensers that are regularly monitored by PUMAGUA. We also keep a permanent awareness campaign so that our community consumes water from these dispensers and avoids the use and disposal of PET bottles. This action is also directly related to SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production.
- Ø SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy
At the Institute of Ecology, the photovoltaic system has been kept at optimal performance and it holds the first place in energy generation in UNAM, with an average monthly performance of 12,600 kilowatts, which have derived in annual savings of around MXN $114,603.00. A couple of power outlets for charging electric vehicles have been added to this system at no cost to the Institute. Thus, the Institute of Ecology became the second charging point for electric vehicles on the entire CU campus. The chargers are advertised on the company's website and are available to the general public.
- Ø SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production
In February 2018, the Head of the Administrative Office established a program with the company Bio Papeel with which 3.4 tons of unused paper have been exchanged for 65,000 sheets of new paper. The company also issues a certificate that guarantees the contribution to caring for the environment in terms of avoiding the felling of trees and saving water and CO2 emissions. Instead of a photocopier, in 2017 and thanks to an initiative of the person in charge of our library, we installed a scanner for requested information (book chapters, etc.) to be digitized and sent directly to the requester's email. This system, which inspired other UNAM libraries to implement it, eliminates the need to photocopy articles or book chapters, contributing to reducing our environmental impact.
- Ø SDG 15 Life on land
In collaboration with UNAM's General Construction and Maintenance Office, the Institute works so that the gardens of our campus, including that of the Institute of Biology, primarily house native flora from the Pedregal de San Ángel Reserve.
