Universitas Syiah Kuala Shares Climate Action Plan to Foster Community Collaboration
Universitas Syiah Kuala Shares Climate Action Plan to Foster Community Collaboration
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During 2024, Universitas Syiah Kuala operationalized and disseminated its Climate Action Plan through high-impact partnerships and transparent engagement with local authorities, civil society, and global networks. The milestone of the year was the launch of the Eco Campus Sustainability Action Nexus (ESCAN) on 12 August 2024, developed jointly with the Green Growth Asia Foundation. ESCAN established a worldwide platform connecting universities committed to embedding sustainability through four pillars: Greening Education, Green Talent, Green Living, and Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.
Beyond campus, USK participated in the Green Cities Investment Forum (GCIF) 2024 in Kuala Lumpur (26–27 November 2024), where academics, policymakers, and industry leaders exchanged best practices on Green City Action Plans, low-carbon mobility, urban greening, and climate resilience. These engagements aligned USK’s plan with regional development agendas and amplified local–international dialogue on climate governance. Concurrently, the university maintained its presence in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024 and published online documentation of its renewable-energy transition, including 254 kW of solar PV, 5 kW of wind power, and biodiesel integration, accessible to government and community partners.
Through these channels, USK’s Climate Action Plan evolved from a campus blueprint into a shared regional framework that promotes collaborative climate action and community co-ownership.
SHARING SESSION 2024
SHARING SESSION 2024
BANDA ACEH - On August 12, 2024, Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), in collaboration with the Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF), officially launched the Eco Campus Sustainability Action Nexus (ESCAN)—a pioneering global initiative aimed at embedding sustainability into higher education. Coinciding with World Youth Day 2024, the launch took place at USK in Banda Aceh, marking a historic milestone in advancing education for sustainable development. ESCAN is the world’s first network connecting Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs) under a shared mission to integrate sustainability across all aspects of academic life. Built upon four foundational pillars—Greening Education, Green Talent, Green Living, and Partnerships for a Sustainable Future—ESCAN seeks to empower students, educators, and institutions to drive climate action through innovation, collaboration, and leadership. By 2025, the initiative aims to unite at least 100 global institutions within its network. In his address, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan, Rector of USK, highlighted ESCAN as a movement to transform education and embed sustainability at the institutional core. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Mahadi Mohamad and Dr. Balamurugan Ratha Krishnan from GGAF underscored the initiative’s global vision to cultivate future leaders in the green economy, while Dr. Muzailin Affan, Head of USK’s Office of International Affairs and ESCAN Secretariat, affirmed ESCAN as a symbol of hope and youth empowerment for climate resilience. The event was attended by prominent representatives from IMT-GT, academia, and environmental agencies across Southeast Asia, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development. Through ESCAN, USK reaffirms its role as a regional catalyst for sustainability, positioning education as the cornerstone of collective climate action and global transformation.
Kuala Lumpur – Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), represented by Dr. Muzailin Affan, Chairman of the Office of International Affairs, participated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Announcement Forum and Exchange during the Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF 2024), held on 26–27 November 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The international forum brought together policymakers, academics, business leaders, and financial institutions to discuss key issues such as sustainable urban mobility, urban greening, and climate resilience, with a strong focus on unlocking climate finance and strengthening public–private partnerships. Participants explored innovative financing models for Green City Action Plan (GCAP) projects, showcased successful green initiatives, and examined opportunities to enhance investment readiness and compliance with global sustainability standards.
USK’s participation aligns with its ongoing commitment to sustainability under the Eco Campus Sustainability Action Nexus (ESCAN) program, launched earlier on 12 August 2024 in collaboration with the Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF) and the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Joint Business Council. ESCAN serves as a platform to foster education-based green transformation across four key pillars—Greening Education, Green Talent, Green Living, and Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.
During the event, Dr. Muzailin emphasized USK’s dedication to building global partnerships that advance environmental stewardship and climate action, stating that the university seeks to make a meaningful contribution to worldwide green initiatives through collaboration and innovation. The forum also echoed the broader objectives of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, reaffirming the need to accelerate collective action toward carbon reduction and sustainable urban development. Through continued engagement in international forums such as GCIF 2024, USK strengthens its leadership role in regional and global efforts to achieve sustainability and climate resilience.
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