By AIT Public Affairs
10 October 2024: The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has been awarded the prestigious International Green Gown Award in the ‘2030 Climate Action’ category for its transformative project, “Net Zero Campus Initiative: A Leap Towards Sustainable Climate Action.” Supported by the UN Environment Programme and Allianz Global Investors, the award celebrates exemplary sustainability efforts in higher education worldwide.
Emerging victorious among 95 finalists from 61 institutions across 28 countries, AIT’s project stood out in the highly competitive ‘2030 Climate Action’ category, one of eight award segments. Spearheaded by former AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, the initiative envisions transforming the campus into a Botanical Garden Net Zero campus by 2030. It champions the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy, emphasising significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and leveraging natural ecosystems to neutralise residual emissions.
Aligned with global efforts, AIT has committed to significant emission reductions by 2030, joining over 1,000 educational institutions in the ‘Race to Zero.’ Collaborating with industry partners, AIT strives to set an example of sustainable practices, merging academia with an eco-friendly environment and contributing to a sustainable future. The initiatives will drive and operationalize the vision, aims, and goals indicated in the AIT Sustainability Policy as well as, leads toward the realisation of the Concept of Botanical Garden Campus Towards Net Zero.
The judges lauded AIT’s project for its holistic and innovative approach to sustainability, encompassing renewable energy adoption, biodiversity conservation, and robust community engagement. They particularly highlighted the institute’s visionary leadership and the profound involvement of both the campus community and external stakeholders.
Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed gratitude for the award, stating, “We are extremely honoured to receive this distinguished award, which validates AIT’s diligent efforts. It motivates us to continue promoting sustainable development together with our partners across the region and beyond.”
The project’s top three learnings include the Net Zero Carbon Initiative using Botanical Gardens as a prototype for other institutions, the transition to solar energy for energy self-sufficiency, and the establishment of a freshwater mangrove museum showcasing environmental sustainability.
See all the winners here: https://www.greengownawards.org/showcasing-our-2024-international-finalists
