On the 8 December 2022, The University of Manchester was announced as a founding member of a new alliance at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).  Manchester is one of 117 universities from 44 countries to make a pledge to start a journey towards becoming nature positive.  

The Nature Positive Universities Alliance, set up by the University of Oxford and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), will help to advance efforts to halt, prevent and reverse nature loss through addressing their own individual impacts and restoring ecosystems harmed by their activities.

The pledge includes four key elements:

• Carrying out baseline biodiversity assessments
• Setting specific, time limited and measureable targets for nature
• Taking bold action to reduce biodiversity impacts, protect and restore species and ecosystems, while influencing others to do the same
• Transparent annual reporting.

Julia Durkan, Sustainable Campus Officer at the University of Manchester says: “We recognise we have a crucial role to play in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies.  Joining this new Alliance further underlines our commitment to create an environment where people and wildlife thrive together.  We are excited to work in partnership with our staff, students and other communities across the world to restore nature through education, research, engagement and our operations.’

The initiative builds on the University of Manchester’s Living Campus Plan  that sets ambitious targets for biodiversity and aims to promote the development of an estate that embraces nature and provides high quality spaces for educational, research, cultural and recreational activities.

The Nature Positive Universities Alliance is calling on other universities worldwide to join its collaborative network and to make institutional changes. Information on ways for universities and their members to engage can be found at www.naturepositiveuniversities.net