Politicians arguing on a televised debate, David Attenborough’s voice describing how more species are becoming victims to the increasing heat. You take a sip from your reusable coffee cup and try to imagine when the words climate change did not spark a sense of anxiety. However, fear not dear student, there is a way for you to engage in sustainable action, contribute to change and make friends along the way.
The Climate Students were originally founded in Uppsala by a group of students at SLU. Since then, the Climate Student Movement has grown and inspired students to take action for the climate worldwide. At Jönköping University, the student organisation SSA (Students for Sustainable Action) represents the Climate Students’ ambitions.
Each year, the Climate Students send out a survey consisting of four criteria. In 2023, the criteria were: aviation-related CO2 emissions, changes in CO2 from aviation between 2020 and 2021, goals, action plans, and measurement of GHG emissions, and finally, target achievement. Based on the survey results, a ranking is created, portraying an accurate picture of the Universities’ climate ambitions.
In 2022 Jönköping University ranked 3rd last out of 23 Universities and in 2023 they did not contribute to the survey. The President of SSA, Anton Toll, expresses his disappointment, encourages students to be a part of SSA to make a change, as well as describes his ambitions for the coming year.
JU were ranked low on the list, how does that feel to see?
“Yes, third last and that does not reflect well because we in SSA are a part of one of the biggest member organisations, the Climate Students.”
There were two criteria that JU failed to accomplish: 1. goals, action plans and 2.measurements and target achievement. Does JU have any clear goals?
“Yes, I know that they have started to create goals, and a lot of it comes down to how to make all of the campuses cooperate but I hope that when I have a meeting with our head of sustainability the mission will become clearer. I have also talked with JSU, it is nice to know that we have support from students.”
A part of the goals criterion is to have a group or person responsible for the sustainable action, did JU have that?
“I believe that is what has been missed. There has probably been a conflict of some sort or someone that has resigned which in turn has created an empty space. It is hard to answer the survey if there is not anyone in charge of collecting the data. But now we have one.”
Why was JU not a part of the survey 2023?
“I have not received an official answer to that, but I am going to talk to the head of sustainability and get to the bottom of this. Hopefully, Jönköping will be a part of the survey again because we think it is very important from a sustainability standpoint. It establishes a baseline for what the school does, how they work towards it, what goals are achievable, and, in addition, in the climate-action-ranking we can compare ourselves with other universities in Sweden which helps us in SSA to push JU to do more.”
Can other student organisations at JU engage in the cause?
“SSA is currently working on a new sustainability project that mostly focuses on student organisations and their work for the environment. It is mostly directed towards the management teams. My goal is that we put forward a workshop that can be a part of a teambuilding. Everyone does very specific things and everything can not be applicable but they will get the mindset of a framework for a strategy for sustainable development. My thought is that the management groups will find their own strategies and in turn, help students and organisations in their work to put pressure on the Universities to do more.”
What are your goals for this year as president of SSA?
“My goal is to focus on student organisations, small companies and start-ups. It is a part of letting students get a chance to work as real sustainable developers and expand their abilities and also make meaningful connections because connections are important when going into your work life.”
When can you sign up for SSA?
“We always have an open application, it is free of cost and you can find more information on our social media (Instagram: @ssa.jkpg). The only deadlines we have are regarding project manager roles.”
Writer: Melina Rahimian Aghda
