"We want to approach sustainability from good science and be able to propose environmental solutions, economic models, urban planning, etc., that allow the development of society". The Vice President of research and Sustainability of the University of Navarra, Paloma Grau, inaugurated the summer course La sostenibilidad, en positivo, organized by the academic center in partnership with the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona and the Chamber of Commerce, which is part of the summer courses promoted by the regional government among the universities of Navarra. 

Aimed at all citizens, the program addresses some sustainability issues such as circular Economics and waste management ; adaptation of cities to climate change; and pollution and sustainable mobility . 

Paloma Grau advocated promoting the partnership between people and institutions to address this challenge: "With this course we intend to promote a dialogue between university, business and citizenship around environmental and social sustainability, which integrates one of our strategic projects such as BIOMA Center", she concluded.

From the recycling society to the circular Economics

The Full Professor of Administrative Law and professor at the University of Navarra, Ángel Ruiz de Apodaca, spoke next and pointed out that pollution, the adaptation of cities to climate change, the sustainable mobility , the joint management of waste "are issues that concern us all" and urged the commitment and responsibility of citizens. "Climate change has become one of the most worrying problems, but when certain efforts are required of us, our environmentalist zeal wanes," he said. Ángel Ruiz de Apodaca referred to the sustainable development as one that meets the needs of current generations and does not compromise the development of future generations and stressed the importance of contributing to the care of the environment.  

Economics circular, how to turn waste into resources. This was the title of the first session of the course and Angel Ruiz de Apodaca made it clear: complying with the rules. Ruiz de Apodaca addressed the management of waste from a legal perspective. "From the recycling society we have moved to the circular Economics . Now waste is a resource, but that entails that administrations control compliance with legislation," said Ruiz de Apodaca. The professor from the University of Navarra pointed out that raising awareness "was important" but he also expressed his support for agreement with the articulation of control mechanisms to ensure compliance with the obligations we have as citizens. He referred to the payment for waste generation and the establishment of sanctions as incentives to acquire good habits. 

More than one hundred people attended the first session of the sustainability course that concluded with the exhibition of the case of Hernani City Council, declared in 2022 as Zero Waste City, at position by Olatz Urrutibeaskoa and Tamara Zapiain, Environmental Technicians of the Gipuzkoa consistory; and a roundtable with the participation of Alfonso Amorena, director- General Manager of Services of the Commonwealth of the Pamplona Region; Óscar Rubio, from the office of prevention and promotion of the circular Economics of the Waste Consortium and Fernando Blázquez, General Manager North Zone of business Ecoembes. In addition, the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona installed a exhibition to raise awareness and learning about recycling. 

The course will also address the planning of cities to prevent climate change.