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The United Nations 17 SDGs, endorsed by 190 countries, include affordable and clean energy, climate action, but also wider goals like ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, gender equality, health and wellbeing, and sustainable cities and communities.

Professor Green said: "As a university we are committed to making a major positive impact in society. This includes tackling environmental issues at a local, national and global level." We have a first class record of environmentally sustainable actions stretching back well over a decade. We are delighted to enter into this further formal commitment to working together towards a sustainable future on the international stage. Worcester has been one of the greenest Universities in the UK for several years running and our staff and students have won literally dozens of awards for environmental sustainability, often in partnership with the local community. Practical initiatives from solar heating to low energy lighting combined with behavioural changes such as more cycling, walking and wheeling all make a difference. Our graduates go on to promote sustainability in their workplaces, homes and lives as well as the teachers and educators of fresh generations of children. Research at the University includes river management, sustainable agriculture, environmental education and much more. We aim to make a difference every day."

Lucy Conn, President of Worcester Students' Union, said: "We are delighted to sign up to the SDG Accord to show our commitment to sustainability. Students consistently tell us they want to learn about sustainability both in their courses and through the opportunity to help on community sustainability projects. We will now be able to report to the United Nations annually about our long tradition of working with the University and community partners on such schemes."

By signing the SDG Accord, the University and Students" Union have agreed to do more to deliver its Goals, by embedding them into its education, research, leadership, operations, administration and engagement activities, and report on their progress annually.

This report feeds into an annual report that the EAUC (Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges) takes to the UN.

Iain Patton, Chief Executive of the EAUC, said: "The ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ is already seen as a leader in the field of sustainability."

"This is actually being part of something global that is profiling the power of university learning for students, but also acknowledging them to be part of solving these problems. We have a unique opportunity at universities to drive this. We're really keen on students from different disciplines coming together to solve university problems or Worcester problems or world problems. I think the University and Students" Union signing is important to show commitment from both sides."

This follows the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ recently being shortlisted for three national sustainability awards: Sustainability Institution of the Year, as well the Benefiting Society and Sustainability Reporting categories, in the Green Gown Awards.

The University also jointly won two silver Green Apple awards, which recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world, for its collaborative work with Worcester City Council and local businesses.

It was ranked the fourth most sustainable university in the country by campaigning organisation People and Planet's University League, which measures sustainability performance at higher education institutions.

This was the fourth consecutive year that the University had placed in the top five.