Costa Rican higher education strengthens its leadership in sustainability through the work of REDIES

• The network, of which CATIE is a founding member, reaffirms its commitment to environmental education and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals in universities.

The Costa Rican Network of Sustainable Educational Institutions (REDIES) celebrates 15 years of promoting sustainability within the higher education system through cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of good environmental practices on university campuses across the country.

Created in 2009 in response to a call made by EARTH University, REDIES currently brings together 17 higher education and technical institutions, including CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), public and private institutions, as well as strategic partners such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Earth Charter International, ARIUSA, VICAL, and the Ministry of Health.

Over the years, REDIES has consolidated a platform of high-impact sustainability actions that promote institutional environmental responsibility. Among its main achievements are:

• The implementation of more than 50 environmental indicators in areas such as water, energy, waste, carbon neutrality, governance, and environmental education, which are measured annually.
• The sustained reduction of water consumption and the improvement of wastewater treatment systems in participating universities.
• The proper management of 3 tons of solid waste during 2024, a significant portion of which was recovered or recycled.
• The planting of more than 10,550 trees as part of environmental compensation and awareness programs.
• The strengthening of university environmental education, involving thousands of students and staff in reforestation, energy-saving, and waste-separation campaigns.
• Most member institutions hold environmental recognitions, such as the Blue Flag in various categories, the National Carbon Neutrality Program–Inventory and National Carbon Neutrality Program–C Neutrality Plus, Environmental Management Excellence from DIGECA-MINAE, and participation in the global GreenMetrics ranking.

“Celebrating these 15 years means recognizing the value of working as a network, where sustainability ceases to be an isolated goal and becomes part of university culture. Each institution contributes from its own reality, generating collective change that translates into a more conscious and environmentally committed country,” said Manrique Arguedas, REDIES coordinator and representative of the National University of Costa Rica.

Forum “Environmental management and education with awareness”

As part of the commemoration, REDIES held the forum “Environmental management and education with awareness” on November 28 at the auditorium of the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT), in Barrio Tournón, San José. The gathering brought together national and international experts to reflect on the role of environmental education in institutional reputation and its contribution to achieving the SDGs.

The program included the lecture “Environmental management and education with awareness,” delivered by academic Javier Benayas of the Autonomous University of Madrid, as well as panel discussions on environmental management in higher education institutions and the implementation of environmental education in Costa Rica’s educational system, with participation from SINAC-MINAE, UNESCO, CEA-UNED, CONARE, and the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).

In the coming years, REDIES envisions an agenda aimed at expanding its sustainability indicators, promoting circular economy practices within educational institutions, and strengthening student participation as a driver of change. Education, understood as a tool for environmental action and leadership, will continue to be at the core of the work the network promotes nationally and internationally.

“Actions that inspire and changes that endure begin with education. This anniversary is an opportunity to renew the commitment of institutions to a more responsible, supportive, and sustainable future, where each academic and administrative decision contributes to a more balanced and just planet,” concluded Arguedas. concluyó Arguedas.

About REDIES

The Costa Rican Network of Sustainable Educational Institutions (REDIES) was established 15 years ago with the purpose of fostering exchange and cooperation among educational institutions to achieve sustainability on campuses and integrate sustainability into educational processes and institutional management. During this time, the Network has enabled the 17 affiliated public and private organizations to strengthen their environmental management in accordance with their individual characteristics. Today, it promotes the integration of sustainability into education, research, institutional management, and university outreach, aligning its work with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.