SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DAY 2022

Sustainability Day at the University of Gdansk

On 3 June 2022, from 9.00 to 13.30, the University of Gdansk will hold a Sustainable Development Day. The event is held under the patronage of the Rector of the University of Gdansk, Prof. Dr. Piotr Stepnowski, and the Deans of the Faculty of Chemistry, Dr. Beata Grobelna, Prof. UG, and the Faculty of Economics, Dr. Monika Bąk, Prof. UG. The event will be organised for the fourth time. The goal of the Sustainable Development Day at the University of Gdansk is to promote, support the idea and realisation of sustainable development goals by initiating projects that promote the application of sustainable development principles in all areas of social life and economic activity. The event has a pan-European scope and its aim is to include the University of Gdansk in the European network of activities for the promotion of sustainable development within the framework of the European Sustainability Week initiated since 2015. European Sustainability Week. The event is organised in as one of the tasks of the Science Club project at the University of Gdansk - known and unknown faces of science, implemented within the programme of the Ministry of Education and Science, Social Responsibility of Science. The main theme of this year's event is consumerism.

In line with the theme 'Less is more, or how to beat consumerism', invited academics will present lectures on the topic, and students and research clubs will hold workshops for young people and schoolchildren. This year's theme is extremely important because excessive consumption is one of the causes of the climate catastrophe predicted by scientists. It is also certainly a symptom of an imbalance in the development of the world community resulting in adverse environmental changes. Every process of production and consumption is indissolubly linked to costs incurred by the environment. Waste is produced, carbon dioxide is emitted, water is consumed. The demand for minerals, fuels and food leads to the destruction of tropical forests and the reduction of natural capital. This results in impacts that burden all inhabitants of the Planet. Changes in consumption patterns and lifestyles are needed to support the Sustainable Development Goals. Only a consumer who is aware of the consequences of his or her purchasing decisions can make responsible and rational choices. The time has come for a responsible approach to consumption that takes into account the social and environmental impacts of the choices made. So limit your consumption and when shopping ask yourself: do I really need this?

The aim of this year's Sustainable Development Day at the University of Gdańsk is to raise environmental awareness and shape attitudes among students, staff and the university environment. It is also an action towards the realisation of the university's social responsibility through dialogue with stakeholders and taking joint action focused on promoting the idea of sustainable development, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals.

The initiative is aimed at a wide audience: primary and secondary school students, students, university staff, businesses and the local community. A range of partners associated with the implementation of sustainable development are invited to join the project. This year's event will be accompanied by a Fair Trade exhibition prepared by the Polish Fair Trade Association and workshops prepared by the Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Gdansk.

We warmly invite you to participate in the event.

Find out more about the Sustainable Development Goals: http://www.un.org.pl/