Paloma Grau, Vice Chancellor: "We want to approach sustainability from good science and be able to propose solutions that enable the development of society".

"We want to approach sustainability from good science and be able to propose environmental solutions, economic models, urban planning, etc., that allow the development of society". The Vice Rector for Research and Sustainability of the University of Navarra, Paloma Grau, inaugurated the summer course La sostenibilidad, en positivo, organized by the academic center in collaboration with the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona and the Chamber of Commerce, which is part of the summer courses promoted by the regional government among the universities of Navarra. 

Aimed at all citizens, the program addresses issues related to sustainability such as the circular economy and waste management; the adaptation of cities to climate change; and pollution and sustainable mobility. 

Paloma Grau advocated promoting collaboration between people and institutions to address this challenge: "With this course we intend to promote a dialogue between universities, companies and citizens on environmental and social sustainability, which is part of one of our strategic projects such as the Bioma Center," she concluded.

From the recycling society to the circular economy

The professor of Administrative Law and professor at the University of Navarra, Ángel Ruiz de Apodaca, spoke next and pointed out that pollution, the adaptation of cities to climate change, sustainable mobility and the joint management of waste "are issues that concern us all" and urged the commitment and responsibility of citizens. "Climate change has become one of the most worrying problems, but when certain efforts are required of us, our environmentalist zeal wanes," he said. Ángel Ruiz de Apodaca referred to sustainable development as that which meets the needs of current generations and does not compromise the development of future generations and stressed the importance of contributing to the care of the environment.  

Circular economy, how to turn waste into resources. This was the title of the first session of the course and Angel Ruiz de Apodaca made it clear: complying with regulations. Ruiz de Apodaca approached waste management from a legal perspective. "From the recycling society we have moved on to the circular economy. Now waste is a resource, but that means that administrations must control compliance with legislation," said Ruiz de Apodaca. The University of Navarra professor pointed out that awareness "was important" but also agreed with articulating control mechanisms to ensure compliance with the obligations we have as citizens. He referred to the payment for waste generation and the establishment of penalties as incentives to acquire good habits. 

More than one hundred people attended the first session of the sustainability course, which concluded with the presentation of the case of the Hernani City Council, declared Zero Waste City in 2022, by Olatz Urrutibeaskoa and Tamara Zapiain, environmental technicians of the Gipuzkoa consistory; and a round table with the participation of Alfonso Amorena, director-manager of Services of the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona; Óscar Rubio, from the office of prevention and promotion of the circular economy of the Waste Consortium and Fernando Blázquez, manager of the Northern Zone of the company Ecoembes. In addition, the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona installed an exhibition to raise awareness and learning about recycling. 

The course will also address the planning of cities to prevent climate change.