Study Links Urban Universities To Global Change

"This shift actually began to emerge in December at another big UN event, the climate change conference in Montreal. Among the 10,000 attendees were hundreds of mayors and administrators who pledged not to wait for Washington or Ottawa to meet their Kyoto obligations, but to do so locally.

The idea of many such cities and regions co-operating directly, as well as globally, is intriguing. To help it happen, I have a strategy, too, one that involves an unlikely ally —one with massive and diverse expertise, potentially boundless youthful energy, a large land base, and lots of power, prestige and wealth.

I'm referring, of course, to the university. The 'higher education industry' is arguably the most important industry in the world. A recent study of the American industry (with 6,500 accredited colleges and universities) put its economic impact at $1.2 trillion per year. At any time, 20 million Americans either work for, or attend, an 'institution of higher education.'

Of Canada's total R&D, 35 per cent (or $9 billion worth) was done by universities. This investment sustains a million jobs, contributes more to the country's GDP than pulp and paper, automobiles, or the arts, entertainment and recreation industries combined."