Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Higher Education Institutions: The Case Study of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile

Abstract

This study presents climate change related actions at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Specifically, actions in research and development, education, extension, and operational measures on campus are discussed in light of the experience of other Higher Education Institutions and the available international evidence. Selected initiatives from internationally recognized Universities are revised in order to highlight initiatives which promote climate change awareness and develop low-carbon sustainable lifestyles. The paper addresses the role of the University of Chile in disseminating climate change stewardship in education and demonstration projects. For that purpose, we describe the following climate change related actions at the Faculty: (i) carbon footprint calculation, (ii) sustainable campus initiative, (iii) courses in climate change related topics, (iv) minor on sustainability, (v) postgraduate diploma on organizational sustainable management, (vi) research in climate change, and (vii) generation of a climate change mitigation and adaptation plan.