AUPresses joins SDG initiative

The Association of University Presses (AUPresses) has become a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Publishers Compact. The Publishers Compact 'is a voluntary commitment that recognizes the responsibility of the publishing industry to create a sustainable future through action'. Announced by the International Publishers Association (IPA) and UN at the 2020 Frankfurter Buchmesse, the Compact aims to accelerate industry movement towards the goals adopted by world leaders in 2015.

Through the rest of the UN’s 2020-2030 'Decade of Action', AUPresses will promote the Sustainable Development Goals throughout our scholarly publishing community, and develop partnerships and programs that will work towards selected goals. Initially, the Association will focus on SDG #17: Partnerships, creating a community hub dedicated to the Publishers Compact where member presses can share knowledge and ideas, collaborating on sustainable action.

Goals including SDG #10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG #5: Gender Equality, and SDG #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth will be supported by the existing and planned projects of numerous Association Committees, including the Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Committee, a new Open Access Committee, and the Business Committee. SDG #4: Quality Education will be advanced through the continued commitment of the Association’s global membership to the publication of rigorously reviewed and professionally edited scholarship and educational texts. AUPresses will look to help coordinate reading lists of members’ publications focused on the goals in the future. More information about the AUPresses commitment to the Publishers Compact and work towards the goals may be found online.

Michiel Kolman, chair of the IPA Inclusive Publishing and Literacy Committee, stated: 'We are delighted to see the Association of University Presses sign the SDG Publishers Compact. We look forward to the members of AUPresses exchanging best practice on how university presses can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Global Goals by 2030.

'The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Publishers Compact are fully embraced by the core values of the Association of University Presses, and in harmony with the mission-driven spirit of our global community,' added AUPresses President Lisa Bayer. 'I am proud to see the Association and the Board of Directors join the Compact at such a key juncture for our industry and, indeed, our planet.'