PURPOSE

Since its foundation, The European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) has been dedicated to science-based, fair and just development. In committing to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries around the globe pledge to contribute to a fundamental shift in how we interact with each other and the finite resources of the Earth. EADI recognizes its role to champion transformative and practical social, economic and ecological changes. We acknowledge our responsibility to not only facilitate scientific exchange for sustainability, but to actively go ahead and ensure that we act in an ethical and responsible manner in all aspects of our work and partnerships.

SCOPE

EADI implements the principles of sustainability into all decisions made by the Secretariat, the Management Committee and the Executive Committee.

EADI actively encourages all members and partners to follow the sustainability guidelines in events and collaborations with EADI and beyond.

AIMS 

Environmental responsibilities

In order to implement its commitment EADI:

• encourages all its members and partners to reduce their ecological footprint. EADI suggests that if feasible, public and low carbon transportation should be preferred over air travel.
• asks members and partners to compensate their carbon emissions produced by traveling to and from conferences, events and other occasions organized by, or in partnership with, EADI. Compensations can for example be done via e.g. https://www.atmosfair.de/de/
• will no longer serve food containing meat during events, conferences and other occasions organized by the association. Furthermore, EADI encourages members and partners to follow this guideline, especially when co-working with EADI.
• takes care to purchase sustainably, organically, locally, GMO-free and fairly produced goods to the largest extent possible.
• is actively working on strategies to reduce food waste (e.g. cooperation with local initiatives such as Foodsharing) and asks its members and partners to take efforts as well.
• promotes waste minimisation, responsible use of water and energy in its working environments.
• takes care to reduce its use of plastics, especially when it comes to the organisation of events, conferences and other occasions.
• commits itself to explore progressive ways of paper free communication and work by emphasising a key role for digital media. If paper is used, it should be recycled paper.
• emphasises the role of reusing technological items and purchasing new items that are environmentally friendly and sustainably and fairly produced to the largest extent possible. Scarce resources should be used carefully and be reintegrated into production cycles by recycling.

Social responsibilities

In order to implement its commitment EADI:

• ensures gender equitable working conditions for staff employed by EADI directly.
• takes care of a healthy working environment, proper working conditions and fair pay of its own staff and service providers.
• takes care of holding events in cooperation with social enterprises, also when organising meetings in cooperation with EADI members.
• continues, beneath being bound to economic considerations, to take measures to buy fairly produced products, the same applies to giveaways.

Implementation date: 21 February 2018

Update: 22 May 2018