Environmental Conservation Policy

Purpose

An-Najah National University will actively apply the concepts of sustainability and environmental conservation and awareness regarding local and global environment. This policy defines the environmental obligations of the University and considers how implementation of the policy should occur.

The environmental policy is consistent with the University’s Strategic Plan and will enhance An-Najah’s place as a leading research and teaching institution. Commitment to this environmental policy will be met by demonstrating leadership in applying environmentally responsible practices for the purposes of sustainability.

Scope

This is a University-wide policy, applying to all Council members, staff, students, and contractors of An-Najah National University.

Definitions

• Environment: Ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; all natural and physical resources; amenity values; and the social, economic, aesthetic, and cultural conditions (including University policy) which affect or are affected by the matters stated above.
• Sustainability: Integrates concern for social, economic, and environmental issues, considering long-term and short-term effects, and taking extra care when changes might be irreversible.
• Environmental Footprint: The impact of an organization in environmental terms such as resource use, waste generation, and physical environmental changes.

Policy Content and Guidelines

The environmental policy has been produced as part of the growing awareness of human effects on the biosphere. Early international responses came from the United Nations, such as the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Declaration) in 1992, which recognized the right to development in harmony with environmental needs.

The Palestinian Authority is committed to developing legal and administrative frameworks to plan for and protect the environment. Palestinian natural reserves are important habitats for several species that are listed as endangered on the Red List of Endangered Species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The University recognizes the need to address wider environmental issues and acknowledges that its diverse activities can impact the environment.

Overarching Principles/ Values

An-Najah National University recognizes its responsibilities to manage the environmental impacts of its activities. These responsibilities are recognized in the following principles:

• Commitment to sustainability and sustainable development goals, including environmental protection.
• Commitment to implementing sustainable and environmentally sound business practices to reduce the University’s environmental footprint.
• Commitment to considering intergenerational impacts as part of decision-making processes.
• Commitment to organizational and personal ownership of this environmental policy.
• Commitment to raising environmental awareness and engagement and providing community leadership.
• Commitment to supporting research and teaching of environmental sustainability.
• Commitment to protecting endangered species and conserving biodiversity.

Objectives

Environmental Management

This environmental policy promotes a clean, safe, and healthy environment for members of the University and the wider community. The University is committed to exceeding minimum environmental standards where practicable and within the organization’s financial constraints. The commitment to environmental responsibility involves concerns for both natural and developed environments, and for the effective and economically and environmentally efficient use of resources. Environmental management includes consideration of amenity values and the enhancement of natural areas. The University will:

• Include Local Biodiversity in Planning and Development: Ensure that local biodiversity is considered and integrated into all planning and development processes, including the construction of new buildings and infrastructure on campus.
• Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Use of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Develop and implement policies to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems associated with the University, particularly focusing on forests, mountains, and drylands.

The Natural Environment

The University will:

• Aim to exceed environmental standards set by the government, including any relevant legislation or regulation and any other requirements to which the University subscribes.
• Actively seek to enhance the biodiversity of natural areas and investigate opportunities to introduce more natural areas into the built environment.
• Manage the University’s natural and physical resources in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.

The Developed Environment

The University will:

• Enhance the amenity values and natural character of the University, referencing key urban design qualities.
• Promote and support the use of environmentally responsible transportation modes such as public transport, fuel-efficient vehicles, cycling, or walking.
• Commit to reducing fossil fuel use in its vehicle fleet where cost-effective.

Use and Re-use of Natural Resources

The University will:

• Actively manage the use of energy and utilities (e.g., gas, electricity, water) to achieve reduced user demand and more efficient usage of available resources.
• Transition to renewable energy use.
• Reduce waste through avoidance, recycling, reduction, and re-use, including compost production on University farms.
• Commit to the procurement and use of sustainable and environmentally friendly resources within financial constraints.
• Apply ecologically sustainable design principles to all new construction and restoration projects within financial constraints.
• Manage the disposal of consumable resources with environmental sensitivity.

Conservation of Red List of Endangered Species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The University will:

• Protect and conserve endangered and threatened species listed in the IUCN.
• Reduce the Impact of Alien Species: Implement measures to reduce the impact of alien species on campus.
• Safeguard measures will be applied to protect and conserve endangered and threatened species within all University campuses.

Researching and Teaching Environmental Sustainability

The University recognizes the importance of sustainability and environmental protection in teaching and research. The University will:

• Promote and encourage quality research that recognizes the importance of sustainability and environmental protection.
• Encourage the teaching of sustainability and environmental protection themes within University programs.
• Support interdisciplinary academic collaboration on sustainability and environmental protection themes.

Community Leadership

The University will demonstrate and encourage leadership in the promotion of environmental awareness and best practices in the wider community by:

• Developing partnerships for environmental sustainability within the wider community, including partnerships to raise awareness of climate change issues.
• Promoting the University as an environmentally responsible organization.
• Communicating and consulting with the wider community on environmental issues.

Social Responsibility in Terms of Environmental Protection Policy

The University will recognize that social responsibility is essential to achieving a sustainable future by:

• Increasing awareness in society about the importance of environmental protection and waste management.
• Providing solutions to industrial and governmental sectors to address environmental protection issues.

Implementation and Review

The University has established an Environmental Committee, with membership drawn from representatives of each Faculty, Campus Services, Public Relations, Finance, and the student body.

The Committee, chaired by a Senior Leadership Team member appointed by the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, will support this policy and review the University’s actions against policy objectives by:

• Monitoring consistency between this environmental policy and existing policies and frameworks, reporting to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs.
• Conducting annual reports to measure the University’s environmental footprint and performance.
• Developing and submitting annual environmental action plans to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, including defined goals, action points, and timelines.
• Reviewing and recommending priorities for implementing environmental initiatives within an annual budget allocation.
• Facilitating collaboration among lecturers and researchers to integrate sustainability into academic work where appropriate.
• Reporting to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs regarding environmental achievements and issues affecting this policy.

Effective Date: December 12, 2018

Review Date: Jun 23, 2024