UPPA getting the DD&RS eco-label for 4 yearsSustainable development and responsibility | 2025 – 2028
On the 18th of December 2024, the University of Pau and the Adour Lands was awarded the DD&RS eco-label for a maximum duration of 4years. This label recognizes the UPPA’s University societal responsibility (RSU*) policy, but also the actions taken to this end, toward the 17 sustainable development goals (ODD*) of the U.N (united nations) and the national expectations of the DD&RS reference frame of the State of Higher Education and Research (ESR*). It also strengthens the commitments and approaches started close to our interne and extern stakeholders, enrols the establishment in a continuous enhancement process about the societal and environmental stakes.
Since defining its RSU’s policy in 2022, the UPPA has been greatly committed to structuring its societal and environmental strategy. Firstly, thanks to the specialisation of its research through five interdisciplinary missions, in relation to the sustainable development goals (ODD*) of the U.N. And then, through the integration of the Eco Transition for Sustainable Development (ETSD- Tansition écologique pour un développement soutenable) in the students’ formal education, just as in the training along the life of ESR staff.
In 2022, the development of an energy restraint plan materialized this commitment in the setting up of new practices and the desire to achieve, in the short and medium term, targets for reducing energy consumption. And so, in response to the Climate Plan by the ESR ministry, the UPPA has devised its first greenhouse gas emissions track record (BEGES- Bilan des Emissions de Gaz à Effet de Serre.) Made internally in 2024, this track record allowed the reveal of the enhancement tracks to reduce the carbon and environmental footprint of the establishment.
In 2023, to go further, the UPPA chose to stand candidate at the DD&RS eco-label acquisition. During two years, the university prepared its application, especially through a self-assessment of its practices, and through the definition of a lot of goals, to be part of an eco-friendly and sustainable approach. The vice-chairmen, the policy officers, the executive directions, and the establishment colleges contributed to this work that was created within a remarkable collective dynamic.
So then, on the 18th of December 2024, the University of Pau and the Adour Lands got the DD&RS eco-label for the maximum duration of 4 years. The “Governance and strategy,” the “Research and Innovation,” and “Social policy” lines were judged as conform to the expectations of the reference frame. The lines “Training” and “Environment” should achieve the expected compliance level quickly.
The recommendations announced by the labelling committee (composed of the CIRSES* representatives, the Conference des Grandes Ecoles, and France Universities) will steer the creation of the future DD&RS director scheme, which will be soon subjected to the university’s authority.
Some of the priority actions:
- finalisation of the external stakeholder’s cartography (their skills and our communal actions regarding the DD&RS.)
- pursuance of the efforts for the DD&RS integration in the formal and continuing education’s career, just as the teachers’ support toward content creation
- support to all staff regarding the DD&RS skills development
Verbatim
« The DD&RS eco-label is a national recognition based on a demanding reference source. It enables the valorisation of the UPPA’s RSU policy and of the actions taken in this regard, in all the university’s fields of activity. It also offers the opportunity to go further in our actions and to contribute to the efforts of all the ESR, especially thanks to the active network of the labelled or involved establishments. Moreover, the DD&RS label put the establishment in a continuous enhancement process, in answer to the U.N’s international objectives of sustainable development. The collective dynamic about these subjects at the UPPA is remarkable, the success of our application at the label is proof of this.»
By Christine Allard, Deputy Director for Development and Transition at the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour.
About the DD&RS eco-label
Created in 2015, the DD&RS label is promoted by the CIRSES, supported by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, by France Universities, by the Conference des Grandes Ecoles (CGE), as well as by the student network for an ecological and solidarity-based society (RESES*.)
The label is part of a systemic approach and is based on a common national framework. This framework is divided on 5 big lines : Governance and strategy, Education and training, Research and innovation, and social policy. Each one of these lines includes strategic variables and operational variables that enable the evaluation of all our professional practices.
*RSU: university social responsibility
*SDG: sustainable development goal
*ESR: higher education and research
*CIRCES: collective for the integration of social responsibility in higher education
*RESES: student network for an ecological and solidarity-based society
