First United Nations University Hub in the United States Established at The City College of New York

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A United Nations University (UNU) hub has officially found a home in the United States, hosted by the City College of New York (CCNY) on November 5.

A Memorandum of Understanding, signed between CCNY President Vincent Boudreau and UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala, formalized the joint enterprise.

Named R-SIRUS, standing for Remote-Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems, CNHI News shared that the Hub will use the country's leading edge in science and technology to address challenges facing all major urban areas in the world.

It's a form of collaboration between CCNY and the UNU Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, based in Toronto. The UNU R-SIRUS Hub links CCNY's leading work on remote sensing and urban systems with UNU's global efforts to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through climate challenges, water and energy issues in cities, and social inequalities, the Hub promotes the resilience and sustainability of cities. It underscores the improvement of inclusion and equity in urban development, providing a global model for sustainable transformation.

First UN University Hub in the US

The Hub will work on three sectors; namely—Research and Development, Education and Capacity Building, and Policy and Advocacy. Each of these pillars links scientific research with practical solutions, allowing collaboration between academic policymakers, and the city authorities.

During the launch ceremony, dignitaries highlighted the importance of New York City as a base for driving sustainable urban transformation. Ambassadors also emphasized the global climate crisis's need for local and international collaboration.

UNU-INWEH Director Kaveh Madani praised the Hub for combining UNU's global reach with CCNY's local expertise, positioning it as a model for other cities.

Apart from academic excellence, Yahoo Finance also reported that the Hub will focus on environmental justice and underserved communities. Its Policy and Advocacy pillar will develop actionable urban policies that are equitable and sustainable. The effort will pull experts from CCNY's Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership as well as other stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach to city challenges.