In dialogue with new generations around the world for a more sustainable and inclusive future

Patrizia Lombardi, President of the RUS network and Vice-Rector for Sustainable Campus and Living Lab of Politecnico di Torino

Two weeks before the opening of the Conference of Parties on Climate Change, COP29, Politecnico hosted on 25 and 26 October, at its campus in Lingotto, the international event dedicated to the new generations ‘Youth4Climate & Universities for the Future: Sparking Solutions for Climate Action’, organised by the Politecnico's Sustainability Service, together with the RUS - Network of Universities for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the MASE - Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and UNDP - United Nations Development Program.

The meeting brought together institutional representatives, academics and young leaders, confirming the University's role as the heart of the European debate on climate action. Over 200 participants, including more than 100 representatives from RUS-affiliated universities, with 37 male and female students and 41 universities represented, took part in the event, which marks the last appointment under the coordination of the University, whose term of office as RUSPresident and Secretariat comes to an end this year: Professor Patrizia Lombardi, Vice-President for Sustainable Campus and Living Lab, was appointed President for the first time in 2019, then renewed for the three-year period from 2022 to 2024.

Politecnico, however, will continue to be at the forefront on the issue of sustainability: both within the RUS Coordination Committee, as a member by right, for the next three years as Former President, and as hosting institution of SDSN Italia, the national chapter of the global Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a position that was recently taken up that highlights the University's commitment to sustainable development and opens up new prospects for collaboration in the future.

Thanks to the international framework offered by Youth4Climate, the dialogue offered numerous insights, focusing on the goal of strengthening synergies between Italian universities and international players. The meeting was further enriched by the participation of the and representatives of the RUS ‘Student Community’ Technical Table, the space created in September 2023 to meet the need for a structured and continuous involvement of students in the RUS activities: after a year of work, the technical table presented the results obtained in the collection and promotion of best practices and for the improvement of the RUS proposals aimed at the student community.

The crowning event was the Global South Young Innovators Awards Ceremony. On 26 October, with the participation of the Undersecretary of State, Senator Claudio Barbaro, prizes were awarded to the best projects devised by young people who are developing innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change, and to inspire those present on the need for global cooperation.

Find out more about SDSN Italy

Find out more about the RUS Student Community Technical Table

Il 26 ottobre, alla presenza del Sottosegretario Senatore Claudio Barbaro, si è svolta la premiazione dei giovani innovatori del Global South per i migliori progetti contro il cambiamento climatico, simbolo di cooperazione globale

The organisational focus of the event went into great detail to fully adhere to the cardinal points of ecology and inclusiveness. In fact, all aspects of environmental and social sustainability were taken into account, from the choice of a venue easily accessible by underground, to catering without plastic or disposable materials, with a vegetarian menu and attentive to the dietary needs of and for guests, from setting up a 'quiet room ’ to provide a space characterised by silence and calm for those who need a respite from crowded environments, to the creation of a key ring created according to the principles of thecircular economy by reusing the roll up of the RUS that is no longer current, all taking into account the principles listed in the guidelines for inclusive events.

The event was preceded in the afternoon of 24 October, at the ‘Emma Strada’ Hall of Politecnico, by a networking moment that allowed for a valuable exchange between representatives of the RUS universities and Politecnico community, with the participation of 13 associations and of student teams, many of them belonging to the Student Sustainability Hub, the space that promotes initiatives related to sustainable development issues. The young participants presented their projects in the presence of Patrizia Lombardi, Vice-Rector for Sustainable Campus and Living Lab, Claudia De Giorgi, Vice-Rector for Equal Opportunities, Inclusiveness and Quality of Life, and Fulvio Corno, Vice-Rector for Education.

The energy and passion of the young people fuelled the event, leaving a positive mark for new opportunities for collaboration. Some freshmen from the Bachelor's and Master's degree courses also participated, being the first to receive the MyPolitoBottle for the 2024/2025 academic year, a tangible symbol of the Politecnico's focus on sustainability.

Patrizia Lombardi, President of the RUS network and Vice-Chancellor for Sustainable Campus and Living Lab, concludes: “The event was an important moment not only to take stock of six years of presidency and coordination of a network that, thanks to our commitment, boasts a very high level of credibility at national and international level, but also to recognise the fundamental leadership role played by young people, students from different countries around the world, young activists and innovators, whose commitment enables us to look to the future in a perspective of greater sustainability and peace.”

Read more about the RUS General Assembly

Find out more about the Student Sustainability Hub