SDG 13 – CLIMATE ACTION

INTRODUCTION

Definition

SDG 13 focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening resilience, and supporting adaptation efforts worldwide. It calls on institutions, governments, and communities to collaborate in addressing the challenges of global warming, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation.

SDG 13 promotes the development of sustainable energy systems, investment in climate education, and improved disaster preparedness, while emphasizing international cooperation and capacity building. In this context, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași (UAIC) contributes through integrated policies, research infrastructure, education, and partnerships aimed at supporting climate mitigation and adaptation.

Policies and Institutional Commitment

UAIC has formally committed to climate action through its alignment with:

• the European Green Deal
• the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework
• national sustainability strategies, including the National Strategy on Education for the Environment and Climate Change 2023–2030

Climate action is embedded in UAIC’s governance and operational planning, ensuring that sustainability principles are integrated into:

• infrastructure development
• research priorities
• educational programs
• stakeholder engagement

Environmental Education and Climate Literacy

UAIC promotes environmental literacy through its participation in the Innovation in Climate Change Education Project (e-InnoEduCO₂), a European Erasmus+ initiative (budget €251,305, 2021–2023). This STE(A)M-based program enhances students’ competencies in digital, experimental, and sustainability-oriented learning, integrating augmented reality and geolocated data models. UAIC’s involvement demonstrates strong evidence of educational outreach on climate change mitigation and adaptation (Project video).

At the national level, UAIC contributes to the National Strategy on Education for the Environment and Climate Change 2023–2030, the first of its kind in Romania, developed under the Ministry of Education. The strategy’s objectives—implementing a national environmental education program, fostering sustainable school infrastructure, developing digital ecosystems, and promoting teacher training—establish Romania’s education system as a key vector in climate resilience. UAIC’s integration into this strategy situates it as a strategic partner in national climate literacy and sustainability transition.

Climate Research and Infrastructure

RECENT AIR Project

UAIC operationalizes its climate action strategy through the RECENT AIR Project
(Research Center with Integrated Techniques for the Investigation of Atmospheric Aerosols in Romania), co-financed by the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014–2020.

The project established:

• 10 research laboratories
• 2 mobile laboratories

These facilities support:

• atmospheric aerosol research and air quality monitoring
• applied meteorology and climatology
• marine and coastal atmospheric studies
• environmental economics and sustainable resource management

CERNESIM Centre

The CERNESIM Centre represents a core research infrastructure within UAIC, including advanced laboratories dedicated to:

• physico-chemical analysis of pollutants
• biomonitoring and bioremediation
• atmospheric process investigation
• geospatial environmental analysis
• environmental economics and policy evaluation

These infrastructures enable:

• predictive modelling of pollutant dispersion
• risk assessment for climate-related hazards
• development of early warning systems
• support for evidence-based environmental policymaking

For example, the L3 Laboratory for Atmospheric Studies simulates regional climatic conditions and develops eco-technologies for reducing gaseous pollutants using advanced spectroscopic and chromatographic systems.

Through these capabilities, UAIC contributes directly to:

• national and regional environmental monitoring
• climate risk prevention
• improved disaster preparedness

These units ensure data-driven decision-making, strengthen Romania’s contribution to the European Environmental Data Network, and support local governance in developing climate risk prevention and early warning systems.

Cooperative Planning and NGO Collaboration

UAIC participates in national cooperative frameworks addressing climate disaster risk, supporting early warning systems and regional monitoring efforts. Collaboration with NGOs and governmental institutions under the Green Schools initiative and the COP27 National Declaration reinforces its engagement in climate adaptation and policy dialogue. The university’s CCE 2024 Conference on Climate Change in Europe: Impact, Risks, and Mitigation further consolidates its role as a knowledge hub and policymaking partner in Eastern Europe.

These activities strengthen UAIC’s role as:

• a regional knowledge hub
• a policy dialogue facilitator
• a partner in climate adaptation strategies

CONCLUSION

 “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași demonstrates a comprehensive and multi-level approach to implementing SDG 13 – Climate Action, integrating research, education, governance, and partnerships.

Its contribution is structured around four key pillars:

1. Research – advanced climate and environmental studies through RECENT AIR and CERNESIM
2. Stewardship – energy monitoring and low-carbon infrastructure development
3. Outreach – community engagement and climate awareness initiatives
4. Teaching – integration of sustainability and climate competencies into curricula

Through measurable outcomes, strategic planning, and strong stakeholder collaboration, UAIC demonstrates sustained institutional commitment to:

• reducing emissions
• strengthening climate resilience
• supporting sustainable transformation

Positioning itself as a regional leader in climate action and sustainability innovation, UAIC contributes meaningfully to both national and global climate objectives.