More than 30 Spanish university chairs working in sustainability participated in this conference, where they shared interesting initiatives to promote the circular economy across multiple sectors.

With the commitment to work towards a more sustainable word based on the principles of the circular economy and the 2030 Agenda, Francesc Hernández, Head of the Chair of Transformation of the Economic Model: Circular Economy in the Water Sector of the Valencian Government and the Universitat de València (GVA-UV), participated in the 1st National Meeting of Sustainability Chairs, which took place on 4 October at the University of Oviedo.

More than 30 Spanish university chairs working on environmental sustainability took part in the event, where they discussed important initiatives that could be implemented in multiple research fields, as well as in the training of university students in order to raise awareness and reduce our environmental impact on the planet.

During the meeting, three roundtables were held with the participation of the chairs of the 2030 Agenda, climate change and circular economy. There was also wide-ranging debate on the role of universities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda, as well as group work sessions on parallel topics.

Francesc Hernández, Head of the Chair of Transformation of the Economic Model (GVA-UV), emphasised that the circular economy is “crucial” to ensure sustainability and that “economic development must go hand in hand with production and consumption models based on the circular economy.” In addition, the professor gave a positive assessment of this first conference because of the “creation of synergies between the different chairs”, which will be “very productive” both in the field of research and training.

Furthermore, José Manuel Rico, Head of the Chair of Climate Change at the University of Oviedo, highlighted during his speech the importance of the “connecting points between the different chairs that promote joint learning,” as well as the possibility of “involving students in sustainability by obtaining micro-credentials.”

Eugenia Serrano, Head of the Cogersa Chair of Circular Economy at the University of Oviedo, stressed that the circular economy is a “fundamental tool for sustainability,” and that training and research in this area must be strengthened in order to “offer real answers to the global challenges affecting many stakeholders in accordance with different sensibilities.’

Moreover, Rosario Alonso, Head of the Concepción Arenal Chair of 2030 Agenda at the University of Oviedo, opts to maintain these meetings in successive years and to have an active role “based on rigour and science to combat denialist attitudes.”