The City of Richmond Hill is welcoming the United Nations (UN) University to the community, raising the world-renowned organization’s flag outside of city hall.
As the academic arm of the United Nations with 13 institutes in 12 countries around the world, the United Nations University addresses a range of global development challenges with its Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), working on major sustainability issues, a City of Richmond Hill news release said.
Since 1996, the institute has been supported by the federal government to help UN member states tackle their fundamental water, environmental, and health challenges.
The new headquarters will work with academic institutions around the world to support global policies in water, environment and health, and will collaborate with technology providers, startups and innovators that are focused on environmental management and sustainability.
“The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health has promoted global collaboration and positive change worldwide. Richmond Hill’s new campus will welcome students from around the world, serve as a world-class educational hub for sustainability, and encourage environmental leadership for years to come,” Ahmed Hussen, international development minister, said.
Richmond Hill was selected to host the institute’s new headquarters based on its commitment to sustainability, its highly skilled and educated workforce, opportunities for partnership with the private sector, and interest in using the best available knowledge to improve the quality of human life and the environment, the city said.
“Today marks a proud moment as Richmond Hill welcomes the academic arm of the United Nations University, a renowned institution with a global impact. Witnessing our community evolve into a hub for sustainability and innovation fills me with pride. Congratulations to the city and the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health on this transformative partnership. I am confident that together, we will position Richmond Hill as a pioneering environmental role model, on the local and national stage,” Majid Jowhari, Richmond Hill MP, said.
“This is an exciting time for Richmond Hill to welcome this globally respected organization to our city. To have the opportunity to collaborate with a like-minded group on environmental matters that we as a community have been long committed to is huge. I look forward to seeing where the future takes us and want to personally welcome the staff of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health to our city,” Mayor David West said.
“We are thankful to the people and Government of Canada for the continuous support of the UN University that has enabled us to make a difference in Canada and the rest of the world. We will continue our collaborative efforts to make science and education accessible globally and to ensure that we can collectively tackle our water, environmental, and health problems. It’s exciting to see the UN flag raised in Richmond Hill and we are very much looking forward to working with the Richmond Hill community and the rest of Canada to make the world a better place for all,” said professor Kaveh Madani, director of UNU-INWEH.
