USJ Environmental Action Programme
The USJ Environmental Action Programme seeks to continuously improve the University’s sustainability and the environment by embracing a green living attitude, and providing education and activities that allow students and staff to explore, understand, engage and solve environmental issues. Our main goal is to be sustainable in all aspects through our Green Campus Operations and promotion of Recycling Programme, Food Waste Reduction Programme, Water Management and Environmental Conservation, along with Partnership and Collaboration.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AT THE USJ GREEN CAMPUS
Located in Ilha Verde (Macao), the headquarters of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) is a living and breathing campus.
Adjacent to the Ilha Verde hill and overlooking an open sky, we offer an open plan faculty where students and staff can feel at one with nature. Inaugurated in 2019, the fully equipped campus incorporates as many green technologies as possible, including:
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RECYCLING PROGRAMME
At USJ, we minimise and actively manage waste through the 3R’s principle: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Separate waste collection system for batteries, ink and toner cartridges, and recycling bins are placed around campus. A carbon-points machine that collects plastic bottles in exchange of prizes is also located on the ground floor in a high visibility and easy access area.
We strongly advocate the ban of single-use plastics, and for that, we have placed water refill stations on each level to provide clean and safe drinking water to avoid the need of purchasing single-use water bottles.
Activities Highlights:
- Waste Handling Campaign in Ilha Verde Campus
- A “Mother’s Meal” Christmas
- Positive turn up in Macao for Waste Reduction Event at USJ Ilha Verde Campus
- USJ collected clothing and goods donations to the Salvation Army
- Visit to VANNEX – Bridging Research and Practice
- USJ x Salvation Army Recycling Program
- USJ Architecture Students Radical Green Architecture Concepts Proposal for Ilha Verde
- USJ’s Institute of Science and Environment at the”Science and Technology Week 2018 and Chinese Civilisation and Innovation Exposition”
- Conference Series: Encyclical Letter “LAUDATO SI” on Care for Our Common Home
- Field trip to Hong Kong Tuen Mun Eco park (Master & PhD students)
- Field trip to Hong Kong Tuen Mun Eco park
- Sands China Eco-360 Sustainability Tour
- Sands China Seminar on Sustainable Practices
- Visits to Ecological Sites in Macao
- Research Projects
- Public Lectures on Science and Environment
- MRI Forum on Environmental Protection
FOOD WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAMME
We are continuously seeking new ways to prevent and reduce one of the world’s most critical issues, food waste, by teaching and learning new methods and strategies to improve our operations, disseminate knowledge, and find solutions.
Activities Highlights:
- A Green Tour of the Wynn Palace
- Roundtable: Food waste Prevention (in Macau/HK): Situation – challenges – recommendations
- International Workshop on Food Loss and Waste Prevention targeting the Southeast and East Asian region
- Sands China Eco-360 Sustainability Tour
- Sands China Seminar on Sustainable Practices
- Public Lecture: Fluorinated compounds in the environment – routes and fate of biodegradation
- Public Lecture: Franz Gasner: “On Food, Trees, and Calming Storms: Why Food Waste Prevention Matters”
WATER MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
The USJ aims to contribute to sustainable water management and environment conservation within the institution and the general society. With that aim, USJ promotes research, educational programmes opened to the community, awareness events, and other projects and activities. A key element in our strategy is the USJ Institute of Science and Environment that focuses on Environmental Sciences, contributing towards the understanding of sustainability issues, providing a dynamic, engaging and international learning environment in Macao.
Activities Highlights:
- Mangrove Planting along Taipa shoreline
- Open Public Lectures on Science and Environment
- Environmental Science Research
- Biological Science Research
- Earth and Marine Science Research
- Series of Public Lectures on the Sustainability of Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources
- Students and Staff Coastal Clean-Up
- Field trips to the local wetlands
- Drop by Drop: Sands Sustainability Department Seminar
- Waterfront Conceptual Design and Flood Control Facilities Design Forum
- Roundtable Discussion on the COP21 Agreement
- Eco Macau TrailHiker
- “Climate Change Adaptation – The Challenging Role of Higher Education Institutions”
PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS
USJ understands that its future and success, as well as the achievement of the sustainable development goals, depends on the development of a web of relationships with like-minded people and institutions throughout the world. Therefore, we collaborate with the government and several NGOs and business institutions in different collaboration projects. Below you can find more information about the organisations and collaboration projects.
Want to get involved?
Whether you are a student, staff or member of the community, there are many opportunities for you to get involved in sustainability initiatives at USJ. If you have any ideas, events and research opportunities that you would like to share with us, please e-mail to the USJ Green Committee.
