The University of Coimbra launches initiative to encourage solidarity meal donations in its community

^{Translation: Diana Taborda}

The University of Coimbra (UC) is launching the second initiative of the campaign 'Together We Help Protect the Future', which aims to raise awareness among the academic community about the issue of food scarcity.

As such, the UC has created UC Share, a solidarity meal donation programme for students receiving social assistance. The feature is now available on the SASUC Go! app, allowing the entire UC community to participate by donating meals. Recipients can use the app to receive the meals.

The campaign 'Together We Help Protect the Future' was launched in September 2023 to raise awareness in the community about the importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following an initial action aligned with SDG 13 - climate action, the second initiative is based on the University of Coimbra's ranking as the 22nd best university globally in accomplishing SDG 2 - zero hunger, according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

The University of Coimbra has implemented several measures related to SDG 2, including providing an affordable 'social menu' in the canteens, promoting campaigns against food waste, implementing waste monitoring mechanisms, providing food to the 'Repúblicas' at reduced prices, and including sustainability criteria in the tender specifications for the purchase of food for the canteens.

The first initiative of this campaign was the temporary creation of a living wall of around 400 plants, which will be replanted in areas of the world affected by forest fires or extreme weather events. The final action will focus on SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities and is scheduled for early 2024.

These three initiatives highlight one of the various ways in which the University of Coimbra and its community contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

More information on the UC projects and initiatives aimed at meeting the Sustainable Development Goals is available on the campaign's website - juntospelofuturo.uc.pt/en

For the fourth year in a row, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023 ranked the UC as the most sustainable university in Portugal and 29th in the world. More recently, the University of Coimbra confirmed its national leadership in addressing global environmental, social, and governance challenges according to the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024.