Blogs

Matthew Green, Head of Commercial Services at South Devon College explains how the mandatory reporting requirement of the SDG Accord has really helped them improve their sustainability as a college.

Sonya Peres, Climate Commission Officer for the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education, discusses how UK research can be harnessed to drive impactful climate action.

Pitch In is a project developed and delivered by Fidra in collaboration with KIMO International. The project aims to end microplastic pollution from 3G artificial turf. Fidra's work uses information collated from researchers, industry, government and other NGOs along with best available science, to establish and inform a wider dialogue with the 3G artificial turf industry, and the communities who use and benefit from them, on how to end microplastic pollution from 3G turf.

Hey Girls is a social enterprise based in Scotland, on a mission to end period poverty in the UK. We launched in 2018, by founder and CEO Celia Hodson and her two daughters Kate and Becky. It all started with a heated discussion that resulted in a simple goal – how to tackle ‘period poverty’ in a sustainable way.

Sonya Peres, Climate Commission Officer for the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Students and Leaders talks about how institutions can and should respond to the Climate Crisis.

The proportion of disabled[1] people is rising, and it is estimated that ONE billion people (15% of the population) is disabled according to the World report on disability (World Report on Disability, 2011). Disability is much more common in low and middle-income countries. There are many definitions of disability.

A disorder in reality might lead to an enduring desire for order in thoughts (Held, 2013:220). Since this pandemic is changing our reality as we have discussed in our first blog. We must seek a positive order in thoughts. The uncertainty in this disorder carries fear and unpredictability. While, it is evident that there is a diversity and heterogeneity in individual responses to uncertainty (Honkasalo, 2008:492) we shall try to conquer our fear and channel our motivation to positive thinking.

Earlier this year, I wrote about my journey in confronting the environmental and social impacts of air travel. I had been working on the Travel Better Package to support a reduction in flying in universities and colleges and had just returned from a two-week long Christmas holiday to Canada. I grappled with the shame I felt, mixed with the longing to see my family. I thought it could be useful to share the difficulties of an international life to support others in similar situations.

Starting a business can offer a lifeline for people living below the poverty line as they try to recover financially and mentally. However, the Covid-19 crisis is going to have a devastating impact on economies. The outbreak has brought countries’ economies to a halt and driven many victims to shut their business and seek loans to survive. If starting a business in the informal sector[1] was difficult before the coronavirus crisis, it will be far more difficult after the crisis. This is because many employees will be made redundant (if they are not already redundant) and some people (especially women) will look to start a new business to be able to survive.

Evidence shows that long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to the development of various diseases, including respiratory conditions such as lung cancer and asthma, and to an estimated 36,000 early deaths in the UK every year . Evidence based research also indicates a link between high levels of air pollutants and Covid-19 cases and deaths

Everyone has heard of recycling, but what about upcycling? Recycling is the process of turning waste into a reusable material or product. It involves taking common household items, such as paper, glass, and plastic, breaking down the materials, and using them to form another product that is often of lesser quality. Upcycling, on the other hand, is a very specific form of recycling that turns waste into a material or product that is of a higher quality.

It is well established now that Covid-19 is very strongly linked to the loss of biodiversity that is caused by both businesses and individual human activity. In this short article, we introduce Energy from Waste (EfW) as a process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the incineration of waste (Stringfellow, 2014). It could be termed ‘Renewable’ in the sense that waste is always in a constant process of replenishment from human activity.

During the lockdown period of the coronavirus pandemic we are all adapting to spending more time at home. I have at times felt anxious about my health, financial implications, and future stability of work. I am grateful that I am still able to leave home for essential purchases and participating in daily exercise, and when I do the nature that greets me outside becomes my sanctuary.

How do we maintain our work/life balance during this time while continuing to ensure our own and our families well-being? We are delving into the lives of colleagues to find out how they manage just this!

Around the globe, the current pandemic has imposed a new reality that revolves around phrases like: self-isolating, social distancing measures, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), flattening the curve and underlying conditions. An overwhelming new reality has emerged with people asking questions such as: Was I wearing gloves in the supermarket that day? Is this a normal sore throat? Did he/she cough next to me? Have we reached the peak? Is my child coping? Will I lose my job?

EAUC writes about Earth Day, the roles of universities and colleges in coming to the aid of our ailing planet, and how Covid-19 will impact our Earth moving forwards.

As a result of Covid-19 pandemic, world leaders have followed World Health Organization (WHO) advice that social distancing is the solution to prevent the virus from spreading and to our allow National Health Services to save lives. To allow this to happen, businesses have been told to close their doors during the coronavirus outbreak. The question is: have businesses fulfilled their CSR duties?

Life has as we know it entered unprecedented times with the emergence of the Covid-19 virus. Worldwide, organisational operations and individual movements have been restricted, and in some countries these rules are enforced by the police. Governments have taken unprecedented measures to confine movement. The previous unthinkable measures have changed lives drastically but most are complying with the new rules, acknowledging the greater good is to minimise impact and retain health.

Biodiversity is the infrastructure that supports all life. The immense pressure plastics are having on the oceans, along with the disappearance of rainforests, and land clearing for agricultural purposes, have all contributed to biodiversity loss and species extinction. All these issues have resulted in many years of human overexploitation of our planet and are recognised to be causing the sixth extinction period the planet is currently experiencing.

LSE student Harriet Freeman talks about the struggle and surrender involved in running a successful sustainability campaign.

Anika Kovalická, a Nottingham Trent University (NTU) student studying Global Studies and International Relations talks climate change and education.

Academia is closely linked to extensive mobility, meaning attending non-local conferences and meetings and engaging in globalised research amongst other international engagements.

Sonya Peres is the Responsible Institutes Research Intern for EAUC Scotland who has been focusing on their Travel Better package to support universities and colleges to reduce the amount of air travel. During this time, Sonya was prompted to reconsider her own flying habits and has set herself some goals for 2020.

Jon Khoo from Interface, proud supporters of the Green Gown Awards Outstanding Leadership Team of the Year, talks about leadership and facing the Climate Emergency Challenge.

Leading academics from University of Lincoln, LSE, University of Hull and University of Manchester have collaborated on this blog about climate policy change and the role of universities and colleges.

Kerry Cheek, SRS Projects Coordinator reflects on a recent project in which she researched laboratory plastic waste at the University of Edinburgh.

Paul Cusition, Chief Executive and Director at FHE specialist insurance provider UMAL talks about why universities and colleges cannot afford to delay climate change risk assessment and adaptation plans.

Alison Johns, Advance HE CEO, highlights some of the stark statistics about women’s representation in higher education ahead of our Women in HE Conference: Conditions for Change - how can we accelerate change that tackles the treatment and inclusion of women?

EAUC CEO Iain Patton discusses the growing climate emergency movement, and the role of Higher and Further Education within it.

EAUC talks everything Global Climate Strike - who, what, when, where, and most importantly - why!

Zenith UK talks about the sustainability findings in the latest Natwest Student Living Index.

The concept of sustainability may not be on the minds of every university staff member or student, but in light of significant global challenges, universities must do all they can to help protect our planet and those that depend on it for survival. Dave Gorman, Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability University of Edinburgh, writes for UUK.

Robert McIntyre, Solutions Architect at Tridonic UK Ltd talks about that lightbulb moment with lighting on campuses.

Zoe Williams, Head of Marketing at Selectaglaze tells us about improving the sustainability of a Grade 2 listed building at Birmingham University.

Jenny Jamieson, Policy Officer at the Scottish Funding Council outlines the role EAUC is playing to ensure sustainable development in the education sector.

Transition St Andrews blog from the University of St Andrews. Interview with Daphne Biliouri-Grant, co-ordinator for the ‘Towards a Plastic Free St. Andrews’ initiative.

From Ayrshire College, which is delivering courses to create the next generation of environmentally conscious teachers, to Sutton College, which is working with care homes to tackle the issue of recruitment and high turnover of staff in the care home sector, the initiatives being undertaken by institutions to help secure a sustainable future are increasingly varied.

Pass it on week (9th-17th March 2019) is Scotland's annual celebration of re-use – organisations and individuals join in to get swapping, donating, sharing and repairing to help make things last!

Jennifer Turner, a manager at Protection Supplies, tells us about some sustainable innovations that could well shape construction across campuses.

Carbon Credentials runs through the main reasons Higher and Further Education should be setting Science-Based Targets.

Zoe Williams, Head of Marketing at Selectaglaze tells us about how the company has improved the sustainability of University of Cambridge's prestigious Jesus College.

Our Annual Conference this year was held at Keele University. Sarah Briggs, Sustainability Project Officer at Keele reflects on the opportunities and challenges

EAUC CEO Iain Patton reflects on the Carbon Reduction Pledge event organised by the EAUC and NUS, hosted by Ofs and BEIS.

Simon Goldsmith, Head of Sustainability at the University of Greenwich outlines the success of their new cup reuse initiative.

Janet Haddock-Fraser, EAUC Chair of Trustees, talks integrated leadership as a means of mobilising institutional action.

Michael J. Lorr from Aquinas College, Michigan, USA, talks sustainability and partnering with NUI Galway.

Louise Walker, Public Sector Sales Director at Interface talks about why it matters where we learn.

Rebecca from the Scotland Team reflects on a project examining the likely impacts of climate change and potential responses to them.

Agne Buraityte from Glasgow Kelvin College talks about their new Velocity Cycling Hub.

Charlotte Bonner from NUS talks about the pilot project 'Unicycle.

Christa Appleton, Education Project Officer at Keele University tells us about how she is using the SDGs to bring students together.

Andy Penaluna from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David talks about the link between sustainability and enterprise.

Dr Tammi Sinha from the University of Winchester talks about the challenge of enabling transformative, positive change within institutions.

Darren Axe,Lancaster University Students’ Union talks about balancing ethical dilemmas.

Dr Steven Rogers, Teaching Fellow in Geology at Keele University tells us all about the Geology department's SDG journey.

Mariya Simeonova, Sustainability Officer at the University of St Andrews, attended an EAUC-Scotland trip to waste facilities leading the way in Scotland’s Zero Waste to Landfill target.

Dave Gorman,University of Edinburgh, reflects on progress made since the University announced its climate strategy – Zero by 2040.

University Business talks about how post-16 education can lead the way in embedding sustainability.

Eco designer Linda Thomas reveals all about the coveted green gowns she makes for award winners.

EAUC CEO Iain Patton talks judging and megatrends.

Find out what makes this print firm special in their latest blog

Jenny Jamieson from the Scottish Funding Council explains more.

EAUC intern Michael Mackenzie gives the inside scoop on sustainability for students.

TUCO talks about sustainable catering and their Green Gowns sponsorship.

IT Schools Africa talks recycling and improving education in Africa

Vegware talks sustainable packaging in FHE

Matthew Lawson, University of Edinburgh

LovetoRide's Jack Windle talks about new project 'UniCycle'

Liz Cooper,University of Edinburgh

Paul Crossley, Sustainability Projects Lead at London Southbank University

Steve Hamilton Vice President and General Manager, UK, Ireland and the Middle East Interface

Rachel Manning, Education Officer at Sustrans

EAUC's CEO Iain Patton talks 'living labs' and how they are helping post-16 education.