The Talloires Declaration is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. 1 It has been signed by more than 300 university presidents and chancellors in more than 40 countries. By signing the Talloires Declaration York University has made a commitment to the following 10 action points.
- Increase Awareness of Environmentally Sustainable Development
Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, foundation and university awareness by openly addressing the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future. - Create an Institutional Culture of Sustainability
Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy formation and information exchange on population, environment and development to move toward global sustainability. - Educate for Environmentally Responsible Citizenship
Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management, sustainable economic development, population and related fields to ensure that all university graduates are environmentally literate and have the awareness and understanding to be ecologically responsible citizens. - Foster Environmental Literacy For All
Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students. - Practice Institutional Ecology
Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction and environmentally sound operations. - Involve All Stakeholders
Encourage involvement of government, foundations, and industry in supporting interdisciplinary research, education, policy formation and information exchange in environmentally sustainable development. Expand work with community and nongovernmental organizations to assist in finding solutions to environmental problems. - Collaborate for Interdisciplinary Approaches
Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental practitioners to develop interdisciplinary approaches to curricula, research initiatives, operations and outreach activities that support an environmentally sustainable future. - Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools
Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help develop the capacity for interdisciplinary teaching about population, environment and sustainable development. - Broaden Service and Outreach Nationally and Internationally
Work with national and international organizations to promote a worldwide university effort toward a sustainable future. - Maintain the Movement
Establish a Secretariat and a steering committee to continue this momentum and to inform and support each other's efforts in carrying out this declaration. 2
1 http://www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html
2 Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future. The Talloires Declaration 10 Point Action Plan. http://www.ulsf.org/pdf/TD.pdf Last viewed November 4, 2005.
