Achievements of Sustainability Campaigns
On May 22, 2025, National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) launched its 2025 Sustainability Week, featuring a sustainability pledge and the signing of the “Oriole Conservation Alliance.” The week-long program, themed “Carbon-Locked Campus”, includes exhibitions, workshops, and hands-on courses introducing carbon sequestration, natural carbon sinks, and biodiversity.
President Chen Chi-Jen emphasized that sustainability has been at the heart of NUK’s governance since its founding. The university adopted the UN SDGs in 2017, has published annual sustainability reports since 2018, and completed campus-wide GHG inventories in 2022. In 2024, NUK ranked 278th among 1,477 universities worldwide in the GreenMetric ranking, rising from the top 24% to the top 18%, with infrastructure, water use, and transportation scoring in the global top 7%. This year, NUK is introducing the ISO 50001 energy management system, aiming for external certification by year-end.
The event also showcased timber repurposed from Typhoon Saola’s fallen trees as carbon storage teaching material, alongside NUK’s first tree-based carbon sink survey. In partnership with the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society since 2021, NUK continues to lead in oriole habitat conservation, with five active nests found this year.
During the ceremony, NUK reaffirmed three commitments:
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Sustainable Governance – SDGs x USR x ESG integration, dedicated unit, and transparent reporting.
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Environmental Sustainability – energy management, carbon inventories, campus greening, and habitat restoration.
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Social Sustainability – local engagement, global collaboration, and embedding sustainability into teaching and research.
Sustainability Week runs May 22–29, with training workshops, six carbon-tracking classes, and a themed exhibition at the library to highlight the value of carbon sinks in daily life.