[Green Monday Series] What does SDG 13 - Climate Action mean at UEH?

Climate change has become one of the greatest challenges facing humanity as global temperatures continue to rise and extreme weather events occur with increasing frequency and severity, threatening the sustainable development of many countries. In pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13 - Climate Action), UEH has implemented a wide range of initiatives in green operations, education, research, community engagement, and policy contribution, thereby promoting meaningful climate action. This week’s Green Monday Series invites readers to explore some of the key milestones in UEH’s journey toward achieving SDG 13.

Climate change is increasingly becoming one of the most critical challenges to sustainable development. Much of it is driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which increases greenhouse gas emissions and causes global temperatures to rise continuously. As a result, extreme weather events including droughts, floods, storms, prolonged heatwaves, and sea-level rise are occurring with greater frequency and intensity, threatening livelihoods, public health, and ecosystems worldwide. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, with the global average temperature approximately 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. The WMO also warns that there is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will break this record. Meanwhile, global temperatures have already increased by about 1.2°C compared with the late 1800s, and without effective emission control, many of the socio-economic development achievements of recent decades may be reversed.

In response to this reality, SDG 13 - Climate Action calls on countries to accelerate greenhouse gas emission reductions, strengthen adaptation capacity, and promote green transformation. Under the Paris Agreement, the world needs to reduce emissions by nearly half by 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5°C. This requires a transition to renewable energy, a stronger focus on sustainable development, and increased investment in climate adaptation. At COP29 (2024), countries also agreed on a goal of mobilizing at least USD 300 billion annually by 2035 to support climate finance for developing countries, reaffirming that climate action is essential for protecting people and advancing sustainable development.

In pursuit of SDG 13, UEH has implemented integrated solutions to reduce emissions and promote green transformation in its operations. The solar power systems installed across UEH campuses, with a total capacity of more than 509 kWp, generated 470,224.2 kWh of renewable electricity in 2024, contributing to a reduction of approximately 1,265.56 tons of CO₂, equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of about 12,000 trees. In addition, UEH monitors electricity, water, and transportation consumption data to improve emission management efficiency. Through the UEH Green Campus Project and its gamification platform, UEH seeks to raise community awareness about waste sorting, emission reduction, and sustainable consumption. Campaigns such as Towards No Single-use Plastic Future, UEH Green Community 2024, Hackathon Green Campus Innovation, and various green lifestyle initiatives have been widely organized to encourage the community to co-create innovative solutions for climate change adaptation.

Building on its multidisciplinary research and collaboration platform, UEH continues to disseminate knowledge and contribute to climate policy processes through conferences and forums such as the UEH - World Bank Conference on Green Growth and Climate Modeling, the National Conference on Public Finance Policy for Climate Change Adaptation, RTD 2024 International Conference, and dialogues on carbon markets. UEH has also developed a podcast series to popularize knowledge on climate change adaptation and launched 7 courses under the EU4 Sustainability Project (Jean Monnet Actions) covering sustainable finance, the European Green Deal, and the SDGs. At the same time, UEH is implementing the GS4-Infra Project, conducting research and policy consulting through the EEPSEA Institute, and sharing the UEH Green Campus model with partner universities to strengthen community adaptation capacity, foster collaboration, and spread climate response solutions.

Infographic of UEH's contributions to SDG 13 - Climate Action

Climate change is no longer a challenge of the future; it is a challenge of the present that requires the collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and communities. For UEH, implementing SDG 13 goes beyond reducing emissions or launching green initiatives. It is a journey toward building a sustainable educational ecosystem where knowledge is transformed into action and every member can become an agent of change. Through its efforts in operations, education, research, and community engagement, UEH is gradually spreading the spirit of climate action and contributing to the realization of sustainable development goals at local, national, and global levels. Every green action taken today, no matter how small, can create positive changes for the planet of tomorrow.

This article was prepared with reference to:

1. UEH Sustainability Report 2024: https://books.ueh.edu.vn/sustainability-report-ueh/ 

2. SDG 13 - Climate Action: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/ 

Additional Information:

UEH Green Campus - Green Monday Series is a communication activity series under the UEH Green Campus Project, posted every Monday to start the week with positive energy and encourage a green lifestyle by providing knowledge, updating news, sharing inspiring stories about environmental protection and sustainable development.

News and photos: UEH Green Campus - Project