Speaker
Description
As the global impacts of climate change continue to grow, the focus on universities as leaders in sustainability and climate resilience is intensifying. Higher education plays a unique role through research, education, community engagement, and leadership. In fragile and environmentally stressed regions like Palestine, this becomes an essential priority, especially considering political instability, governance issues, and ongoing conflicts. This paper examines the potential of Palestinian universities, particularly Al-Quds University (AQU), to promote sustainable development and climate action within the context of occupation and limited resources. The study adopts a qualitative approach, including institutional analysis, policy review, and case studies of three of Palestine’s leading universities (Al-Quds University, Birzeit University, and An-Najah National University). Each serves as a meaningful example of sustainability efforts on their campuses thus far. The case studies show that despite major challenges, Palestinian universities are developing a nascent environmental agenda that includes green campus initiatives, waste reduction strategies, energy efficiency programs, and international climate literacy exchanges—mainly driven by committed faculty and supported by national policies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, at Al-Quds University, the institutional strategy has yielded measurable progress, including the implementation of a campus-wide waste sorting program, solar panel installations covering key academic buildings, and integration of sustainability content into core curricula. The university has also established a Sustainability and Climate Resilience Task Force and conducted community outreach activities focused on water conservation, food security, and energy awareness in marginalized communities. Despite these promising developments, the findings also highlight that such environmental initiatives remain constrained by broader structural barriers, including funding shortages, geopolitical restrictions, and fragmented policy enforcement. Nonetheless, Palestinian universities continue to serve as vital agents of resilience and social transformation, demonstrating how higher education can advance sustainability even under systemic adversity.
Keywords: Sustainability, Climate Change, Higher Education, Green Universities, Palestine
