United Nations RCE space to support cross-border sustainability work
Wayne State University and the University of Windsor recently celebrated the opening of a new on-campus space of the United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development. The new facility, located in Wayne State’s Undergraduate Library, and provides a hub for student engagement, community collaboration and sustainability projects focused on the Detroit-Windsor region.
Launched in 2022, the RCE collaboration aims to drive action on climate change, tackle economic and health disparities and reduce social inequity, all in pursuit of a more sustainable future for these two cross-border communities.
Donna Kashian, director of Wayne State’s environmental science program and the RCE, highlighted the significance of the new space, calling it “everything to the partnership.”
The space provides a centralized location for collaboration and serves as a resource for community engagement. “We have allowed our community partners to use our space and facilities for meetings, providing a service to the community, and helping demonstrate WSU’s commitment to serving the community to better meet sustainability goals,” said Kashian.
Sustainability in action
The RCE’s upcoming projects underscore its commitment to the United Nations' sustainable development goals and the unique needs of the Detroit-Windsor region.
One ongoing project, in partnership with the nonprofit Make Food Not Waste, aims to educate students on the environmental impact of food waste, which contributes 8% of global carbon emissions. A campaign at Wayne State’s Tower Cafe is underway to reduce food waste and compost breakfast leftovers, with plans to expand composting across all food services.
Another upcoming project with the University of Windsor and the NOAA Weather Service is focused on improving precipitation data to better understand flooding in both cities. The data collected could help Detroit and Windsor prepare for and manage the impacts of climate change.
Students interested in joining the RCE’s efforts can reach out directly to the team. With its new space in the heart of campus, the RCE is set to become a center of action for sustainable development, linking efforts across the border and empowering Warriors to make a difference.