The United Nations University has launched its first Hub in the U.S. at The City College of New York.
NEW YORK, November 23, 2024 — A new hub for the United Nations University (UNU) focused on Remote Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems (R-SIRUS) has been established at The City College of New York (CCNY). This announcement was made during a partnership agreement signing ceremony attended by CCNY President Vincent Boudreau and Tshilidzi Marwala, the rector of UNU and under-secretary-general of the United Nations.
Photo: UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala and CCNY President Vince Boudreau sign the official Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony in Steinman Hall on November 5.
This Hub, in collaboration with the UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), will link City College of New York (CCNY) to UNU’s global research and educational initiatives. It aims to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enhance international relations, and promote the advancement of sustainable cities.
- The UNU Hub, the first in the U.S. and globally to focus on remote sensing and the sustainability challenges of complex urban systems, aims to enhance cities’ adaptability to climate-related issues. Its mission is to foster inclusivity and resilience in urban spaces. This Hub will build on the UN university’s strong science, technology, and urban innovation legacy, serving as a global model for resilient, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable urban development.
Establishing this Hub will foster a collaborative partnership between CCNY and UNU-INWEH, located in Toronto.
“New York City is a perfect location for a hub focused on sustainable urban transformation. This collaboration with CCNY demonstrates a strong commitment to utilizing science and technology to enhance the adaptability and resilience of cities,” said Marwala. “Our partnership with CCNY will benefit New York and support global efforts in urban sustainability through knowledge sharing and capacity building, especially for the Global South.”
The UNU Hub will unite interdisciplinary experts to develop solutions for extreme weather impacts, urban water and energy requirements, and social inequalities urban communities face. The UNU R-SIRUS Hub will focus on three main pillars: Research and Development, Education and Capacity Building, and Policy and Advocacy. These pillars connect scientific innovation with policy-making, delivering actionable solutions to urgent urban challenges.
“Our college has always prioritized the responsibility of public educational institutions to serve the public interest,” said Boudreau. “Over the years, we have made significant investments in remote sensing related to climate change in water and energy systems. This partnership allows us to allocate those resources in ways that will have the greatest public impact, and we are excited to collaborate with UNU on this important work.”
- As the academic branch of the United Nations, the Tokyo-based United Nations University (UNU) has 13 institutes across 12 countries. UNU addresses various global development challenges through collaborative research and education. UNU-INWEH focuses on significant sustainability issues, tackling some of the most pressing problems related to water, the environment, and health worldwide.
- Kaveh Madani, the Director of UNU-INWEH, highlighted the Hub’s potential to make a significant global impact. “This initiative demonstrates UNU’s dedication to tackling sustainability challenges,” he stated. “By merging UNU’s global perspective with CCNY’s localized expertise, the R-SIRUS Hub will serve as a model for other cities worldwide.”
R-SIRUS’s Policy, Advocacy, and Outreach pillar will work with New York City authorities and international stakeholders to create policies for equitable and sustainable urban transformation. Focusing on environmental justice in underserved communities, this initiative, led by Colin Powell School of Civic and Global Leadership experts, aims to translate scientific research into practical policies that enhance urban resilience and sustainability globally.
Since its establishment in 1847, The City College of New York has been committed to delivering high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers across a diverse array of disciplines. The institution recognizes its vital role in driving social change. Over 15,000 students are pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight distinct schools and divisions, backed by significant research funding, creativity, and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY inaugurated its most extensive fundraising campaign titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together.” This initiative aims to elevate the College’s Foundation assets to over $1 billion to support its educational mission. CCNY epitomizes the diversity, dynamism, and visionary spirit of New York City itself.
Source: The City College of New York
— The Editor of CitiTimes is a member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).
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