Thanks to efforts led by Meghna Tare, University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) chief sustainability officer and many dedicated stakeholders, North Texas has received certification as a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) for Sustainable Development North Texas from United Nations University.

What began as a brainstorming session last year about how to unify sustainability efforts across North Texas will now be an influencer in the community as cities expand, providing the resources to maximize the potential economic opportunity that well-managed communities can offer. The status quo is not sustainable; so North Texas must embrace a proactive approach to addressing the challenges of urbanization.

“I realized that while there are 168 Regional Centres of Expertise around the world, there are only six in the United States,” says Tare. “So, launching an RCE North Texas is a chance to show leadership from UTA and the region in terms of sustainability. We have a lot to be proud of and to share with the world, and this gives us a global platform to do that.”

Sustainable development goals good health and well-being, sustainable communities and education. Another working meeting was held to decide on mission and vision statements, and one-year and five-year goals.

For more information, visit Tinyurl.com/NorthTexasRCE.