THE University Impact Forum: Climate Action 2024, post-event summary

Times Higher Education hosted a global higher education forum on 11-12 September 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss the role of universities in tackling the climate crisis ahead of the country hosting COP29 in November. The event was hosted in partnership with Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) and Sumgayit State University.

The THE University Impact Forum: Climate Action 2024 brought together more than 140 international university leaders, policymakers, industry trailblazers and senior members of governmental and non-governmental organisations from 19 countries to assess how climate change is shaping the lives of individuals. It also explored the impact on current and future generations who will bear the brunt of the environmental crisis.

Attendees received first-hand knowledge from leading voices in the sector about how to bolster their research outcomes and institutional efforts to tackle climate change, and they benefited from networking opportunities and activities including a campus tour of Sumgayit State and a cultural city tour of Baku.

Thirty speakers, including leading academics and senior figures from international governmental organisations, addressed the challenges and opportunities of the climate crisis in post-oil countries and why current climate actions are not working. Among the key speakers were:

• Emin Amrullayev, minister of science and education, Azerbaijan
• Nigar Arpadarai, United Nations climate change high level champion, COP29 Azerbaijan
• Vazeh Asgarov, rector, ASOIU
• Rufat Azizov, rector, Sumgayit State University
• Nargiz Hajiyeva, country director (Azerbaijan), British Council
• Samir Mammadov, country representative (Azerbaijan), United Nations Global Compact
• Katie Normington, vice-chancellor, De Montfort University
• Ulkar Sattarova, director, State Agency for Science and Higher Education, Azerbaijan.

ASOIU’s Dr Asgarov said: “I am proud to co-host this important event, which stands as a testament to the power of international collaboration in tackling the global challenge of climate change. ASOIU has been a leader in the energy sector for a century. As our nation embarks on a journey towards renewable energy and sustainable development, we are dedicated to equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to drive this transition.

“Research and scientific enquiry are crucial for developing the technologies and strategies necessary to address climate change effectively. The climate crisis demands a unified response, and Azerbaijan’s ongoing transition offers a valuable case study for the world.

“This forum provides a platform to share experiences, learn from experts and collaborate on innovative solutions to accelerate the shift towards a greener, more resilient future. ASOIU is honoured to participate in this collaborative effort, contributing to the global dialogue and sharing our lessons. Together, we can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future. Let us use this forum as a catalyst for action and forge new partnerships.”

Sumgayit State’s Dr Azizov said: “We are honoured to co-host this significant event, which emphasises the crucial role that higher education institutions play in combating the climate crisis the world is currently facing.

“At Sumgayit State University, we are committed to integrating climate action into our strategies and curricula, fostering relevant research and innovation, and preparing our students to be leaders of a sustainable future.

“This forum is a great opportunity for sharing knowledge and building meaningful connections to develop effective solutions addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

The agenda focused on how universities must play a pivotal role in making climate action a core institutional objective, with the main themes covering:

• Why the success of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals depends on SDG 13 (climate action), and the role universities can play in supporting this
• How universities can use their research outputs to put climate action at the core of their strategies
• How universities can act as players to bring together key stakeholders to address climate change consequences
• How universities can support under-represented groups in the fight against climate change
• How universities can use their student pool to support the greening of industry and jobs.

Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said: “Minister Amrullayev spoke of the importance of universities using data to help inform strategic decisions. The Azerbaijan higher education community has impressively embraced the challenge. In 2019, just one Azerbaijani university participated in Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings – today, 18 universities are sharing data to gain vital performance benchmarking information on their social and economic impact, and their sustainability.

“Universities must lead the world on climate action. Big thank you to Ulker Sattarova, Vazeh Asgarov and Rufat Azizov for their outstanding hosting, hospitality and leadership on this issue.”

Charlotte Coles, THE’s director of partnerships and engagement, said: “Universities must remain at the forefront of efforts to combat climate change through groundbreaking research and innovation, training the change makers of tomorrow and collaborating with wider society to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon future.

“This forum challenged the usual thinking on what higher education, governments and business can do help tackle the immediate and long-term ramifications of the climate emergency, and we were delighted to welcome senior leaders to support the sector in forging a greener, fairer world.”

View all the event photos in our Flickr album here.

THE’s next climate-focused event will be the Global Sustainable Development Congress. It will take place on 16-19 June 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey, and will be co-hosted with Turkey’s Council of Higher Education. Find out more via the event website here.