The Association of University Presses (AUPresses) is a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact. A “universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere,” the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been adopted by all member states. The Publishers Compact, developed by the International Publishers Association (IPA) launched in cooperation with the UN, is an opportunity for the global publishing community to contribute to these goals.
Because the SDGs reflect the Association’s core values, our commitment flows through much of the Association’s work and programming in support of these goals.
- SDG #5: Gender Equality—A gender pay parity analysis is now a core element of the AUPresses Compensation Survey.
- SDG #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth—The AUPresses EJIB Committee continues to support programming to develop equitable workplaces, including webinars and town halls, a continuously curated resource library, and support of equity work undertaken by other committees. The AUPresses Compensation Survey now makes more data available to the entire member constituency, and includes a Regional Pricing Parity analysis to help understand compensation across North American members.
- SDG #13: Climate Action—The Association’s keystone effort to advance positive action on the climate is our Annual Meeting format plan that alternates between virtual and in-person events. In 2026 the Annual Meeting is in person; however, the planning takes into account this commitment, making choices to decrease waste in printing, materials, and catering options. At the 2026 Annual Meeting, the Association is co-locating the annual Business Operations Meeting and Directors Meeting, as well as co-organizing programming with partners at the Library Publishing Coalition. This consolidates professional travel across our wider communities for the year.
Over the rest of the UN Decade of Action (2020-2030) for the SDGs, the Association looks forward to joining with more of our members, partners, and friends to advance these and other goals for a more just, sustainable, and hopeful future for us all.
A growing list of international publishing houses, associations, and service providers have joined the call to work towards the SDGs. These include (as of Spring 2026) AUPresses members Bristol University Press, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Edinburgh University Press, UJ Press, Liverpool University Press, Marine Corps University Press, the University of Ottawa Press, Oxford University Press, Princeton University Press, Qatar University Press, the University of Toronto Press, and the University of the West Indies Press.
