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Students for a greener university
Linköping University has the potential to become the most sustainable university in Sweden. This is the vision of Fen Wang, a former student at Linköping University's master's programme in Science for Sustainable Development.
Fen Wang came to Sweden from China in 2007 to study at Linköping University (LiU). His studies on the master's programme in Science for Sustainable Development inspired him to influence people to take concrete actions for a greener more equitable economy and for sustainable development. In 2011 he went to Vermont University in the United States to do research related to energy security. Now he is back in Linköping to walk the talk for a greener society.
During the Christmas holidays Wang and his friends Saye Umush and Henok Debessai engaged some students at LiU to reuse and recycle old newspapers and ads. Together they turned the old paper into Christmas cards and sent them to friends and family, while inspiring them to recycle.
Wang believes that LiU will become the most sustainable university in Sweden, possibly even around the world.
"I see a lot of potential here," he says. "LiU is an innovative university and a number of environmental associations have already set their bases here."
To influence both Swedish and international students to live a green lifestyle is important to Wang. He points out that Swedish students in general are aware of environmental issues, owing to the fact that Sweden is a democracy with freedom of speech and a free media. At the same time, it is essential to raise awareness among international students from developing countries.
"For instance, in my homeland China there is lack of transparency as regards environmental data. Citizens have limited rights to access environmental security information. There is also lack of media freedom."
"Climate change is the greatest threat to humankind and no single country can handle this alone," Wang notes. "Global challenges require collective global actions and governments must learn to cooperate with non-governmental organisations, corporations, international organisations like the United Nations and the global civil society. They can complement each other’s weaknesses and strengths. This way the global environmental governance will be much more effective."
An idea that Wang feels strongly about is urban agriculture. He is very inspired by the ideas of the Stockholm-based company Plantagon, which intends to build a large vertical greenhouse in Linköping.
"There is a need to find sustainable solutions to feed the increasing urban population, while reducing gas emissions and transportation costs," he says. "One solution is large scale food production in vertical glasshouses in the cities, also known as vertical farming."
Wang's passion for resolving environmental and climate change issues led him to found the international environmental advocacy association GreenEarthCitizen (GEC) last year. The organisation consists of people from research institutes, universities, business and other major groups among the general public, working for a common green cause.
"All of us have to take responsibility for a greener society. It is essential that developed countries support developing countries with green ideas, technologies, finances and other solutions. Eventually it will benefit the developed world as well," Wang concludes.
Text: Anna Nilsen
Photo: Anna Nilsen (Fen Wang), Rapid Eye Media, istockphoto (hands holding earth)
Related links
Master’s programme in Science for Sustainable Development
GreenEarthCitizen
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Page responsible:
anna.nilsen@liu.se
Last updated: Tue Jun 04 14:27:37 CEST 2013
