On 27 May 2026, Politecnico di Torino presented the UNICO project at a research session of the 2026 Cities Mission Conference entitled “Mission Cities and the Path Ahead: Building a Research Agenda from Cities Experience”. The collaborative session, organized by NetZeroCities EU, focused on shaping the future Research Agenda for the European Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities. The discussion brought together researchers, universities, and institutions committed to supporting Mission Cities and accelerating climate action through science, policy, and practice.

The 2026 European Innovation for Sustainability Summit took place in Rome between 8–9 May 2026, under the theme “The Future is Here Somewhere.” On the second day of the summit, the SDSN led a feature session on “Cities, Regions, and Universities as Living Laboratories for Climate Action.” Panelists shared examples from the CARMINE and RETIME Horizon projects, the Pathfinder Initiative, and the UNICO Erasmus+ project on how partnerships between research institutions, municipalities, universities and local communities can accelerate climate action and generate solutions that are relevant, scalable and grounded in real-world contexts.

The University Cooperation for Net Zero on Campus (UNICO) project was funded by the ERASMUS+ programme to support the urgent need for decarbonization in higher education. Spearheaded by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Europe, this ambitious initiative will work with four European universities including University College Cork.  Each of the 4 universities, including University College Cork, will work across their respective SDSNs to advance Net Zero ambitions for all respective network members.

Paris, France (January 5, 2026) — The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is proud to launch the University Cooperation for Net Zero on Campus (UNICO) project, funded by Erasmus+. This ambitious new initiative builds on the SDSN’s expertise in campus decarbonization through the Net Zero on Campus initiative. It aims to accelerate European universities’ efforts to cut emissions, enhance collaboration with cities, and empower communities to drive climate action.

At the 2025 SDSN Global Network Managers Workshop in Sunway City, Malaysia, the SDSN Secretariat introduced the UNICO project to representatives from 23 national and regional networks. The presentation highlighted UNICO’s mission to advance campus decarbonization across universities, its upcoming launch under the EU Erasmus+ programme, and the collaborative work that will unite four SDSN networks starting in 2026.