From left to right, the speakers at the event Ana Arana, director of ETSIA; the counselor Begoña Sanzberro; the Dean of the School of Sciences, Ignacio López-Goñi; and Camino Oslé, Vice President of the Public University of Navarra. PHOTO: Courtesy.

The University of Navarra, together with 34 other public and private entities, has promoted the Forum for Sustainability in Navarra, whose main objective is goal to open a stable space for participation and partnership among organizations in our Community to promote progress towards greater sustainability in the economic, social and environmental spheres.

The Forum is promoted by the Center for Environmental Resources of Navarra (CRANA), with the participation of the high school Oficial de Doctores y Licenciados en Sociología y Ciencias Políticas de Navarra, the Chair UNESCO and the Public University of Navarra.

During the act of constitution of the new Forum, Ignacio López-Goñi, Dean of the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra recalled that the sustainable development "consists of satisfying our needs without compromising those of future generations. To do this, three components must be taken into account: the economic development , the social development and environmental protection. Three interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars".

He also pointed out the coincidence of the Forum's presentation with the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010. On this occasion, he stressed that we are all an integral part of nature: "Our destiny is closely linked to biodiversity, to the great variety of other animals and plants, and to the place where they live. We share the planet with several million different species: an incredible natural wealth, a priceless treasure that forms the fundamental basis of human well-being." He therefore insisted on the obligation to safeguard natural wealth and reduce its loss for our present and future well-being.

Education environmental inside and outside the classroom.

      Finally, the Dean of Sciences insisted on the role of universities in supporting the protection of biodiversity: "universities want to contribute to the training of committed citizens, aware and capable of influencing the development of a more equitable world, and socially, economically and environmentally more sustainable".

Some of the topics proposed to be worked on by the entities that make up the Forum are energy, mobility and transportation, savings and efficiency, water, consumption and supplies, environmental impact, emissions, waste, climate change, corporate social responsibility, land use, social participation, as well as quality criteria and development rural.

The Sustainability Forum is open to all networks and entities that share its mission statement, objectives and the approach of this collective project .