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The Role of University Campuses in Reconnecting Humans to the Biosphere

Author

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  • Johan Colding

    (The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 50005, Stockholm, Sweden
    Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Stephan Barthel

    (Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
    Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, Gävle 802 67, Sweden)

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the potential for integrating university campuses in a global sustainability agenda for a closer reconnection of urban residents to the biosphere. This calls for a socio-cultural transition that allows universities and colleges to reconnect to the biosphere and become active stewards of the Earth System. Recognizing their pivotal role of fostering coming generations of humans, university campuses represent a unique socio-cultural setting to promote sustainable development in practice. Among others, this involves the nurturing of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Antropocene era, which is characterized by ongoing climate change and massive loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. We explore the traditional campus setting, its role as a community for rejuvenating town planning and its role as a governance authority that may promote or retard sustainable development with an ecological focus. We explore the “sustainable” university and describe the campus as an ecosystem and how a resilient campus can be designed to meet the novel and critical challenges of the Anthropocene. We conclude by providing some policy recommendations for higher educational institutes to speed up their ambitions in the area of sustainable biosphere management.

Suggested Citation

  • Johan Colding & Stephan Barthel, 2017. "The Role of University Campuses in Reconnecting Humans to the Biosphere," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:12:p:2349-:d:123431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lovely S. Mores & Jeongwoo Lee & Woongkyoo Bae, 2019. "University-Community Partnerships: A Local Planning Co-Production Study on Calabarzon, Philippines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Donghyun Kim & Sanghoon Lee & Seiyong Kim, 2023. "Study of Campustown Projects for the Sustainable Win-Win Growth of Universities and Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-26, June.
    3. José Ramón Díez & Iñaki Antigüedad & Elena Agirre & Arantza Rico, 2018. "Perceptions and Consumption of Bottled Water at the University of the Basque Country: Showcasing Tap Water as the Real Alternative towards a Water-Sustainable University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Pauline Marsh & Suzanne Mallick & Emily Flies & Penelope Jones & Sue Pearson & Iain Koolhof & Jason Byrne & Dave Kendal, 2020. "Trust, Connection and Equity: Can Understanding Context Help to Establish Successful Campus Community Gardens?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-25, October.
    5. Johan Colding & Åsa Gren & Stephan Barthel, 2020. "The Incremental Demise of Urban Green Spaces," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-11, May.

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