P.A.R.I.S. Initiative

The Guild has released a new insight paper titled “Universities in the Face of the Climate and Nature Crises” (March 2025), highlighting pioneering sustainability practices from universities across Europe. One such practice is Université Paris Cité’s P.A.R.I.S. Initiative (Program for Accompaniment and Research in Sustainable Innovation).

The P.A.R.I.S. Initiative is a model of civic-driven academic engagement focused on sustainability. It aims to mobilize students, faculty, and researchers around the socio-environmental transition by offering interdisciplinary education that tackles real-world challenges.

Key elements of the P.A.R.I.S. Initiative include:

• Project-based, interdisciplinary teaching focused on sustainability challenges
• Faculty support and curriculum development from undergraduate to PhD levels
• A sustainability-focused hackathon in collaboration with civil society organizations
• Bridging academic knowledge with community-driven change

By fostering active civic engagement and encouraging collaboration beyond academia, the P.A.R.I.S. Initiative is driving meaningful, sustainable transformation for both the university and the wider community.

Read more in the full publication: Universities in the Face of the Climate and Nature Crises (PDF)