Siemens Gamesa and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network launch the 2nd edition of the “Universities for Goal 13” competition
Today, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, through its Social Commitment department, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched the second edition of “Universities for Goal 13”, cementing their alliance to promote university talent and innovation in the fight against climate change.
“Universities for Goal 13” is an international team competition where students from selected universities work across disciplines to produce creative solutions for energy transition and environmental sustainability. While focusing on SDG 13 (Climate Action), the competition requires that the projects align with all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.
After a successful first edition in 2022, and due to the great interest shown by SDSN’s network’s universities to reiterate the experience, four of the universities who ran in 2022 have signed up again: Tsinghua University in China, the University of Göttingen in Germany and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. In 2023, they will be joined by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Nelson Mandela University from South Africa, and Case Western Reserve University from the U.S.A..
The competition engages students in the fight against climate change
Addressing the climate emergency by changing the trajectory of CO2 levels is the most pressing imperative of our time and requires urgent measures. With this team competition, Siemens Gamesa and UN SDSN want to give (up and) coming generations a chance to be part of the solution while promoting innovation for quality education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) - thus addressing (SDG 4). Also, the current lack of interest in STEM careers among young people, especially women, could jeopardize society’s efforts to advance towards sustainability.
By giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their talent and skills in a collaborative and competitive way, universities will position themselves and their faculties within a dynamic and innovative environment, while providing regional stakeholders with an understanding of technical, legal, and sociological aspects of how local economies can decarbonize.
About the competition and award
The competition will begin in January and end in September 2023 during an awards ceremony which will take place in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Throughout the project, students will be assisted by teaching staff and mentors from Siemens Gamesa.
Projects will require a multidisciplinary approach which is essential for the transformation, considering technological, legal, economic, and social aspects of the transition toward a carbon free economy.
The winning solution will be awarded USD 10,000 in prize money for further development and implementation.
A total of 14 projects were selected to participate in the competition’s first edition. The award ceremony took place on September 19, 2021 in New York. The winner of the first edition was Byte Rainforest of Tsinghua University in China with a solution that proposed a new pathway to realize the intangible value of rainforests as key carbon sinks. The team developed a blockchain-based digital MRV system to monetize the carbon sink potential of tropical rainforests by converting carbon flux into carbon credits. The solution will create a strong incentive for local farmers to conserve the rainforest and attract international private capital to support their protection.
A strategic partnership between Siemens Gamesa and SDSN
Through its Social Commitment department, Siemens Gamesa is devoted to advancing Agenda 2030 with initiatives aligned with five of its Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 (No poverty); SDG 4 (Quality Education); SDG 13 (Climate Action); SDG 14 (Life Below Water); and SDG 15 (Life on land).
María Cortina, global head of Social Commitment at Siemens Gamesa, said: “The long-term strategy of Social Commitment from Siemens Gamesa is focused on promoting STEM education, and protecting the environment, especially fighting climate change. That is why we are proud to collaborate with SDSN, a prestigious institution dedicated to push the SDGs towards the achievement of the Agenda 2030. We are confident that this project will be, once again this year, a good step towards a better planet”, she said.
María Cortés Puch, Vice President of Networks at SDSN, said: "We are grateful to be a part of this groundbreaking project and to partner up with innovative companies such as Siemens Gamesa. Thanks to this competition, students from universities all over the world receive excellent mentorship to work on practical problem-solving directed at the climate challenges we face.”
To further ensure inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG4), Siemens Gamesa is also supporting SDSN’s K-12 Education Policy Program, a joint initiative by SDSN Networks and Global Schools Programs to help change national policies to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into primary and secondary school curricula. The goal is to better prepare students to enter the world as global citizens achieving sustainable development outcomes.
The program was announced during the UN Secretary General’s Transforming Education Summit at the SDSN Leadership Council in September 2022.
Read about the 2022 edition: Click here!
Contact Us:
About Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Siemens Gamesa unlocks the power of wind. For more than 40 years, we have been a pioneer and leader of the wind industry, and today our team of more than 27,000 colleagues work at the center of the global energy revolution to tackle the most significant challenge of our generation – the climate crisis. With a leading position in onshore, offshore, and service, we engineer, build and deliver powerful and reliable wind energy solutions in strong partnership with our customers. A global business with local impact, we have installed more than 127 GW and provide access to clean, affordable and sustainable energy that keeps the lights on across the world. To find out more, visit www.siemensgamesa.com and connect with us on social media. For more information: www.siemensgamesa.com
About the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to create practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. The SDSN has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN is building national and regional networks of knowledge institutions, solution-focused thematic networks, and the SDG Academy, its flagship online education initiative.