This Wednesday (7), Unicamp and the São Paulo State Secretariat for Infrastructure and Environment (SIMA) signed a protocol of intentions to formalize agreements and partnerships in the areas of sustainable development and energy efficiency. The document was signed by the Rector of Unicamp, Marcelo Knobel, and by Marcos Rodrigues Penido, Secretary of Infrastructure and Environment. Representatives from Unicamp who work on projects linked to sustainable development, SIMA and partner companies in carrying out these projects also participated in the virtual event.
Throughout the meeting, Marcos Penido highlighted the importance of partnerships with institutions such as Unicamp, which develops research that helps identify paths for developing public policies and executing strategic projects. According to the secretary, the state administration's goal is to reduce the energy consumption of all its public buildings by 30%, around 30 thousand in total, by the end of 2022. "Caring for the environment means taking care of the air, water , of the land, of the place we live in. And it is through infrastructure that we can put this into practice, whether through water resources and improving basic sanitation, as in the energy sector, in changing our energy matrix, with the search of new less polluting matrices, and in the search for energy efficiency, which brings savings", details Penido.
Currently, Unicamp implements several actions in search of sustainable development and energy efficiency. Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva, coordinator of the Sustainable Campus Project, highlights that initiatives such as the generation of renewable energy, from photovoltaic cells, the campus electric bus project and the entire optimization of units and bodies to make them more efficient from an energy point of view have already managed to reduce consumption by 10% of energy at the University. He also highlights Unicamp's participation in training professionals for this sector. "This protocol of intentions opens the way for us to discuss a more effective partnership, an agreement between Unicamp and the State, and which also includes the partnership of distributors that operate in the State", he comments.
Another important initiative that will be enhanced with the partnership is the creation of HIDS, the International Hub for Sustainable Development, which relies in its essence on the principles of energy efficiency and sustainability. "Together with Campinas City Hall, the São Paulo Economic Development Secretariat and stakeholders from the region neighboring Unicamp, we propose the creation of a district in which we promote urban development with robust infrastructure and within the logic of sustainable development. Unicamp wishes to collaborate with the creation of a district that is a model for the region", explains Marco Aurélio Lima, Executive Director of Integrated Planning at Unicamp.
For Rector Marcelo Knobel, signing the protocol of intentions is an important step that strengthens the work of institutions dedicated to promoting sustainability: "We have managed to make significant progress in our partnership with CPFL, we also have a partnership with Sanasa , the water company in the Campinas region, where we are building a large international water research center. Strengthening public institutions dedicated to these issues is fundamental for the future and sustainable development"
