We are a growing network of people from over 400 higher education institutions across the world, working together to promote nature on our campuses, in our supply chains and within our cities and communities. We were founded by UNEP and University of Oxford in partnership with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
This is a critical time to stand up for nature. We believe that universities can use their power and influence to help lead their communities on a Nature Positive journey, uniting both the climate and biodiversity crises to build more resilient ecosystems, help nature recover and limit climate change.
Make the pledge
We are inviting universities to make a Nature Positive Pledge. This is a commitment to start a nature positive journey, incorporating a baseline, targets, actions and annual reporting. This needs to be made by senior management on behalf of the institution as a whole. There are ways for all parts of a university to be involved.
Student Ambassadors
We are developing a thriving Student Ambassadors programme, empowering students to take action for nature on their campuses towards Nature Positive and share experiences and resources with other students across the world. We now have over 100 students from Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, DRC, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, UK, USA and Uzbekistan. We invite students from universities, colleges and higher education institutions to join our international network to link up with students around the world wanting to make changes for nature on their campus and at their institutions and start a Nature Positive journey with us.
Schedule
Nature Positive Universities launched yesterday at COP15, in Montreal and worldwide! We are very grateful to all of you 115+ founding universities in 45+ countries that have already made the nature positive pledge – please invite your neighbouring institutions and collaborators to join up next on our website or join our mailing list too.
There are two more COP15 events upcoming, and we would be delighted if you could join us, and help us get the message out to more people:
Thursday 8th December – virtual launch
View our launch video on UNEP’s YouTube page here – included as part of the programme for the CEPA Fair COP15 parallel event, which featured many of you! You may have also seen various news-pieces on university websites that are part of the launch, here is the story as it appears on the UN’s website. Please do engage with us on social media @NaturePosUni and using #GenerationRestoration and #NaturePositiveUni.
Monday 12th December – in-person at the science-policy forum at 3.30pm EST
Henry Grub of Nature Positive Universities will be presenting at session 12 of the science-policy forum in the blue zone at COP15. Please join us in-person at the session titled “Opportunities for nature positive future – session for early-career scholars and students”. Room 516C, Palais des Congrès. There should also be a livestream available for international viewers on the CBD YouTube page for parallel events here.
Tuesday 13th December – in-person at Restoration Day with the FAO at 12.10pm EST
Henry Grub will be back speaking at Restoration Day, held with the UNEP and FAO, at the session titled “#GenerationRestoration Intergenerational Dialogue: Moving from Policy to Localized Action”. Please join us in the blue zone – Rio Convention Pavilion, room 220B, Palais des Congrès. There will also be a livestream available for international viewers here.