The College of Business Administration here recently announced that it has signed the Talloires Declaration, thus becoming the first university in the Kingdom to take such a step towards becoming more eco-friendly, greener, and dedicated to sustainable growth. The CBA is the first Saudi university to join the other 350 universities worldwide that have already signed the declaration. Each university which signed the declaration has in effect made a public and global statement that it is deeply concerned with the sheer magnitude of environmental pollution and degradation, and the depletion of natural resources. The Talloires Declaration is a pledge by the presidents of institutions of higher education to take it upon themselves to seek ways to reduce the environmental problems that are plaguing our planet, such as air pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, water depletion, destruction of the ozone layer, and the emission of greenhouse gases. Dr. Abdullah Dahlan, Chairman of CBA, in his statement to the press said: “At the CBA we always strive to protect our surrounding environment. As an academic institute, we play a leading role in educating our students and the general public about environmental issues, research, supporting innovations in development that are more eco-friendly, and organizing environmental awareness campaigns and activities. Signing the Talloires Declaration has put sustainability and environmental concerns at the forefront of our priorities and responsibilities.” As for the details of this declaration, Sultan Faden, faculty member at CBA and head of the Founding Group of the Saudi Green Building Council, said that it guarantees that the university will agree to take the following ten actions: 1. Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, and university awareness on the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future. 2. Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy formation, and information exchange. 3. Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management, sustainable economic development, population, and related fields to ensure that all university graduates are environmentally literate and responsible citizens. 4. Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students. 5. Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing programs of resource conservation, recycling, and waste reduction at the university site. 6. Encourage the involvement of government in supporting university research, education, policy formation, and information exchange. Expand work with nongovernmental organizations as well to assist in finding solutions to environmental problems. 7. Convene with school deans and environmental specialists to develop school curricula that include lessons in environmental sustainability. 8. Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help develop the capability of their staff to teach about environment and sustainable development issues. 9. Work with the UN Conference on Environment and Development, the UN Environment Program, and other national and international organizations to promote a worldwide university effort toward a sustainable future. 10. Establish a university committee to continue this momentum and to apply the necessary efforts in carrying out this declaration. __
