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 focussing on SDG 13 (Climate Action), the competition requires projects to align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and is an urgent call to action for all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.
After a successful first edition in 2022, and due to the great interest shown by the universities in the SDSN network in repeating the experiment, four of the universities that competed 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 in South Africa and Case Western Reserve University in the USA.
The competition involves 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 action. With this team competition, Siemens Gamesa and UN SDSN want to give up (and) coming generations to be part of the solution, while promoting innovation for quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education - thus addressing (SDG 4). Furthermore, the current lack of interest in STEM careers among young people, especially women, could jeopardise society's efforts to move 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 in a dynamic and innovative environment, while providing regional stakeholders with an understanding of the technical, legal and sociological aspects of how local economies can decarbonise.
About the competition and the prize
The competition will start in January and end in September 2023 during an awards ceremony that will take place in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Throughout the project, the students will be assisted by teachers and mentors from Siemens Gamesa.
The projects will require a multidisciplinary approach that is essential for transformation, considering the technological, legal, economic and social aspects of the transition to a carbon-free economy.
The winning solution will be awarded 10,000 USD in cash for further development and implementation.
A total of 14 projects were selected to take part in the first edition of the competition. The awards ceremony took place on 19 September 2021 in New York. The winner of the first edition was Byte Rainforest from Tsinghua University in China with a solution that proposed a new way to realise the intangible value of tropical forests as key carbon sinks. The team developed a blockchain-based digital MRV system to monetise the carbon sink potential of tropical forests by converting the carbon flow into carbon credits. The solution will create a strong incentive for local farmers to conserve the rainforest and attract international private capital to support its protection.
A strategic partnership between Siemens Gamesa and SDSN
Through its Social Commitment department, Siemens Gamesa is dedicated to advancing the 2030 Agenda 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:
"Siemens Gamesa's long-term Social Commitment strategy is centred on promoting STEM education, and protecting the environment, especially in the fight against climate change. This is why we are proud to collaborate with SDSN, a prestigious institution dedicated to pushing the SDGs towards the realisation of the 2030 Agenda. We are confident that this project will, once again this year, be a good step towards a better planet," she said.
María Cortés Puch, Vice President of Networks at SDSN, said: "We are grateful to be part of this pioneering project and to partner with innovative companies like Siemens Gamesa. Thanks to this competition, students from universities all over the world receive excellent mentoring to work on practical problem-solving aimed at the climate challenges we face."
To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG4), Siemens Gamesa is also supporting the SDSN K-12 Education Policy Programme.
Read about the 2022 edition
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