Recognising the efforts of Riga Technical University (RTU) in ensuring sustainable development of the environment and the willingness to promote it, the university was admitted to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) at the beginning of April. SDSN aims at reaching 17 goals set by the United Nations (UN) with respect to global sustainable development in 2030. Currently, RTU is the only organisation from the Baltic States, which joined the network.
Working in the network, RTU as an institution of higher education and research centre has selected seven aims set by the UN as its priority; these aims correspond to university research platforms. The primary aim of RTU is provision of high quality education and promotion of life-long learning. RTU plans to contribute to research and innovation in the fields of sustainable water technology, energy distribution systems, infrastructure and urban environment. The University has also committed itself to facilitating development and distribution of sustainable products.
RTU Rector, Academician Leonīds Ribickis notes, «RTU as the largest university in Latvia is responsible for promoting sustainable development both in Latvia and internationally using its expertise and infrastructure. RTU set 7 out of 17 global sustainable development aims as its priority. Knowledge generated by RTU researchers in these areas has already caused impact on the local and international scale. Taking into consideration RTU contribution and future aims, participation in the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network is well-reasoned.»
RTU participation in the network opens cooperation and joint research opportunities with the network members –universities and industry representatives, as well as provides access to SDSN materials and reports, in such a way promoting research at the university.
RTU Vice-Rector for Research professor Tālis Juhna stresses, «We are proud that we are the first participant from Latvia to join this global network uniting global players in research and entrepreneurship. It is an opportunity for us to conduct research not just at national and regional scale, but to learn about research-worthy global scale sustainable development problems and to take part in their analysis and solution in cooperation with the world largest enterprises in the industry.»
SDSN was founded by the Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon in 2012 to solve global sustainable development problems. It unites universities, research institutes, non-governmental organisations and other bodies dealing with the issues of sustainable development. SDSN members all over the world are invited to take the lead in promoting sustainable development at the local, state, regional and global scale, facilitating international discussion on sustainable development challenges, launching solution initiatives, ensuring high quality education and research and providing governments with detailed information on the issues of sustainable development.
The Executive Committee of the Network unites such world leaders as the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser, researcher, philosopher Jeffrey Sachs, leader in sustainable development, who was twice included in the list of 100 world’s most influential people by The Times Magazine, Ted Turner, founder of the American television company CNN, John Thwaites, the Chair of Australian National Sustainability Council, Amina Mohammed, Minister of the Environment of Nigeria and other. Such institutions as Earth Institute of Columbia University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Polytechnic University of Milan and the National University of Singapore participate in the network.
