From: Creating a Common Future: An Action Plan for Universities. Follow up to the Halifax Conference on University Action for Sustainable Development, December 9-11, 1991. Halifax : Lester Pearson Institute for International Development, Dalhousie University, 1992.
University presidents and senior officials from universities, governments, the business community and NGOs from five continents met in Halifax, Canada in December, 1991 to discuss the role of universities in improving the capacity of countries to address environment and development issues.
An important and somewhat similar process had been initiated at the Tufts European Centre in Talloires, France in October, 1990. It had become clear to the Halifax conference organizers that the UNCED meetings, planned for Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, must be widely seen to be a catalyst for serious efforts to steer the world towards sustainable development patterns. It was also clear that the university community must be challenged to re-think and to re-construct many of its traditional activities and frameworks in order to play a leadership role in a world at serious risk of irreparable environmental destruction.
The conference was organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the International Association of Universities, the United Nations University, and Dalhousie University. Support was received from the Department of External Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Province of Nova Scotia. Mr. Ivan Head, past President of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) served as conference chairman. Among those delivering key-note addresses were the Hon. Jean Charest, Minister of the Environment, Canada; Professor Walter Kamba, President of the I.A.U. and Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe; and Mr. John Bell, chair of the Canadian Delegation to UNCED.
In readiness for the conference at Rio, key papers from the conference are being published in a special issue of Higher Education Policy, the journal of the International Association of Universities. The detailed proceedings of the conference are being published by Dalhousie University and will be available, upon request, on May 1, 1992.
A follow-up plan of action, as a basis for practical strategic plans for sustainable development -- details of which are now being refined and pursued by many of the universities represented in Halifax and by their 'converts'. Emphasis is to be placed on concrete actions at home as well as a vigorous and strategic use of world-wide networks.
A Declaration, done at Halifax, which provides a general direction being pursued by the universities now involved. Emphasis is to be placed on education and training, on research and policy information, on far more weight on the value of inter-disciplinary work and on a pro-active role by universities for sustainable development.
Those in attendance at the Halifax conference believe the UNCED process to be a critical step towards an environmentally sustainable future and pledge their support. They invite their colleagues in other universities and institutions to help ensure the long-term success of the UNCED challenge to create a sustainable and more equitable world.