Ateneo and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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SDG 17

 

The Ateneo Sustainability Audit Framework for ESG Practices

The Office of Student Activities and Ateneo GLP 2023 delegates developed the Organization Sustainability Audit (Matrix) as a framework for embedding sustainability practices aligned with Laudato Si’ principles into University activities, especially student organizations. The audit focuses on sustainability across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions, ensuring current needs are met without compromising the future. It assesses the student organizations’ sustainability practices while addressing environmental impact, ethical awareness, and resource use.

Key components include:

  1. Current Organizational State – Evaluating existing sustainability practices, such as awareness campaigns, use of recyclable materials, and carbon footprint offsets, without ranking or grading.
  2. Organizational Events – Assessing sustainability measures in event planning, including meat-free food options, carpooling arrangements, and waste generation.
  3. Sustainability Knowledge –  evaluate the perceived relevance of various concepts, such as water consumption and waste management, to sustainability in the context of youth organizations, using a ranking matrix to gauge their alignment with sustainable practices.
  4. Sustainability Goals – Identifying the organization’s short- and long-term objectives for improving sustainability.

Through this comprehensive audit, the Office of Student Activities and the Ateneo GLP 2023 delegates aim to empower student organizations to adopt actionable sustainability strategies. This will ensure a culture of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance aligned with the University’s Laudato Si thrust.

Ateneo's participation in government policy development

Ateneo de Manila University has actively participated in the development of national government policies related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its involvement in the creation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan 2020-2030 is an example of its ability to collaborate with the government in policy formulation. The university is a part of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability serves as the host of SDSN Philippines.

To showcase its commitment to the SDGs, the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, and later the Ateneo Innovation Center, have released a report on the University's sustainability initiatives and its contributions to attaining the SDGs 1–17 in order to demonstrate its commitment to the SDGs.

Ateneo's Contribution to SDG 17: Progress and Challenges

Analyzing trends in SDG 17, research supporting sustainable development partnerships improved from 2021 to 2022 but saw a slight decline in 2023. This indicates potential setbacks in fostering effective partnerships. Relationships to support the goals were strong in 2021 but declined in 2022 and 2023, suggesting a decreasing focus on partnerships for sustainable development.

On a positive note, Ateneo actively engages in cross-sectoral dialogues on SDGs and collaborates internationally on gathering SDG data, contributing to research reports on multiple SDGs. The university also reviews best practices for tackling SDGs through international collaborations and actively partners with NGOs and local governments for SDG initiatives. However, there was a significant drop in the publication of SDG reports in 2023, indicating a potential setback or need for further investigation. Despite these challenges, Ateneo demonstrates a commitment to meaningful education on SDGs through mandatory education for all students and dedicated courses addressing sustainability within the university curriculum and for the broader community through outreach and scholarship programs.

Related Links

Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines

 

News and Features

Ateneo's Service-Learning soars: Improved processes lead to 50% increase in faculty participation

An overhaul of the Service-Learning (SL) Load Application process at Ateneo de Manila University has led to a 50% increase in faculty participation during School Year (SY) 2023-2024, marking a significant milestone in the University's commitment to social engagement and community impact.

EDCOM 2 and Ateneo award research fellowships to 16 individuals

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2), in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University through the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD)...

Book launch of “Social Values: Pathways to Development by Fr Francisco Araneta, SJ. A Collection of His Essays”, edited by Raul Gonzalez

The Ateneo de Manila University community gathered on Friday, the 20th of September 2024 at the Hurtado Hall, Social Development Complex, to partake in the...

Regional security in Asia: Implications for Europe and the Philippines

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Appointment of Dr Cristina M Bautista as Director of the Tagpuan Center for Dialogue, Research, and Collaboration (Memo U2425-044)

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Anthology of Food Security and Food Systems Perspectives - August 2024 (First Edition)

This Anthology of Food Security and Food System Perspectives has been collated from a series of webinars from April 2021 to June 2024 (First Edition), organized by the SDSN PH through its Working Group on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).


Events

Meeting / Consultation / Town hall / Forum

Post-Haiyan Ecologies: A Roundtable Discussion on the 10th Anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan

Mon, 09 Oct 2023

The Loft, Areté

On the 10th Anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, the Sugat Team...

Exhibit

Summer Field School for Southeast Asian Studies Destination: Surbaya, Indonesia - A Multimedia Exhibit

Wed, 27 Sep 2023

Art spaces at Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall

The Ateneo Initiative for Southeast Asian Studies and the Ricardo...

Lecture / Talk / Discussion

SOSE-ARISE Lecture Series SY 2023-24: Perspectives on Health and Wellness

Tue, 26 Sep 2023

Online

Topic: "Best Practices of Resilient Filipino Students" Speaker: Dr. Queena...

Workshop / Seminar / Short Course

Perspectives on Sustainable Water for Food Security, Health and Nutrition (Webinar #3 of the “Policy and Governance of Sustainable Food Systems” series)

Tue, 19 Sep 2023

via Zoom

Perspectives on Sustainable Water for Food Security, Health and Nutrition...