News
EMR data shows a fall in carbon emissions in HE, but more commitment needed
Environmental statistics (EMR data) released last week revealed an 8% fall in carbon emissions by HE providers despite a 4% increase in energy consumption. In 2017/18 HE providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland consumed 6.7 Terawatt hours of energy, compared to 6.5 Terawatt hours in...
Posted on 13 May 2019
Bridgend College declares its commitment to address the climate emergency
Following both the UK and Welsh Government’s declaration of a climate change emergency, Bridgend College is reaffirming its strong and positive corporate commitment to take action on climate change, to become the first College in the UK to declare a climate emergency. This statement has bee...
Posted on 2 May 2019
Phase out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to end UK contribution to global warming
The UK can end its contribution to global warming within 30 years by setting an ambitious new target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says today. Ten years after the Climate Change Act became law, now is the right moment to set a m...
Posted on 2 May 2019
Government must seize business opportunity presented by net zero target
Welcoming the publication of the Committee on Climate Change’s advice today [1], the Aldersgate Group urges the government to press ahead with setting a net zero target. This must be underpinned by a comprehensive policy package to deliver net zero emissions and support business investment and...
Posted on 2 May 2019
EAUC is launching the Living Lab Guide
There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all approach in tertiary education. At EAUC we recognise these particularities and have partnered with National Union of Students - NUS, to develop a Guide that highlights different approaches to learning and research through pa...
Posted on 1 May 2019
EAUC Declares a Climate Emergency
EAUC are today declaring a Climate Emergency We are calling for all post-16 education institutions and support bodies in the UK and Ireland to declare a Climate Emergency and to commit to the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation to adopt as a minimum a 2050 net zero emissions target...
Posted on 1 May 2019
‘Put climate change on our curriculum': The outraged teens confronting Ofsted
We are four 15-year-old school students who are deeply concerned about the damage we’re doing to our planet and how it will affect our futures. Climate change is the biggest issue of our time, and it must be a part of our education if our generation is to understand it and help us to combat...
Posted on 30 April 2019
Newcastle University second to declare a climate emergency in UK
Newcastle University has signalled its commitment to climate change action by joining a number of organisations in the UK and all over the world to declare a climate emergency. Following Newcastle University’s Environment and Sustainability Committee meeting on 10 April, the University has ...
Posted on 30 April 2019
Sun in the oven! A solar cooker for INSIDE the home
A solar cooker that heats food by concentrating the sun’s rays can be used inside the home thanks to new research by Nottingham Trent University. The project aims to allow people in hot, arid countries with sun all year round to cook indoors without the need for gas, electricity or bu...
Posted on 25 April 2019
University of Bristol declares a climate emergency
The University of Bristol is joining with other organisations and institutions across the country and the world to become the first UK university to declare a climate emergency, reaffirming our strong and positive commitment to take action on climate change. Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-...
Posted on 17 April 2019
Oxford University donates computers to IT Schools Africa to enable quality education for students
Oxford University donated obsolete, working IT equipment to IT Schools Africa for sustainable reuse to help provide increased access to e-Learning technology for African students. This will offer life enhancing knowledge and skills, access to further education and improved employment opportunities. ...
Posted on 15 April 2019
NERC invests £1.3M to engage the UK public on big issues in environmental science
An innovative project that will see researchers collaborate with diverse communities on issues in environmental science has been awarded £1.3M through NERC’s Engaging Environments programme. The award is NERC’s largest single investment in public engagement, with project partners p...
Posted on 15 April 2019
Inspire Fund - Public Engagement Funding
A new public engagement funding scheme part of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s work to tackle misconceptions around dementia and promote the importance of dementia research is now available. This is to support new perspectives, talent and expertise to shed a spotlight on this important issue, ...
Posted on 15 April 2019
University of Nottingham crowned Enactus UK 2019 national champion
On the 8th and 9th April, the top 32 Enactus teams from across the UK competed in the 2019 Enactus UK National Expo at the ExCeL, London. The dynamic, energy-filled event brought together 650 university students, 70 academics, and over 300 senior UK business leaders across two days in celebration...
Posted on 15 April 2019
University and college leaders must wake up to the demands of students on climate action
The Further and Higher Education sector is calling on sector leaders and governments across the UK to wake up to the rally cries of students and staff on sustainability issues like Climate Change. The increasingly urgent call for climate action by students and staff in the form of Youth Strikes i...
Posted on 12 April 2019
New UK reports show opportunity in net zero emissions targets
The Aldersgate Group – a membership organisation that drives action for a sustainable economy – have released two new reports on net zero emissions targets. EAUC are proud members of Aldersgate Group, and we welcome the reports that argue that a net zero emissions target cou...
Posted on 10 April 2019
Gender Pay Gap in Universities - one year on
Times Higher Education (THE) reports slow progress on closing the gender pay gap in UK Universities. The Government Equalities Office published the data for the second year last week (Friday, 5 April). Gender Pay Gap data submission is a legal requirement for every employer with 250 or more emplo...
Posted on 8 April 2019
Results Announced: THE University Impact Rankings 2019
Times Higher Education (THE) released their first University Impact Rankings today, tracking the impact of universities on 11 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Topping the overall table is the University of Auckland, followed closely by McMaster Univers...
Posted on 3 April 2019
EAUC supports Climate Action Strikes
As the alliance for sustainability leadership in education, the EAUC are excited to see students from the UK’s universities and colleges joining the Strikes for Climate movement, and adding their voices to the call from school children and academics for more action on climate change and sustai...
Posted on 1 April 2019
University signs up to help Manchester go zero carbon and plastic free
The University of Manchester has announced its participation in ambitious regional initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and plastic use. Along with other universities and colleges in Greater Manchester, The University of Manchester and its Students’ Union will work to eradicate avoidable ...
Posted on 1 April 2019
2019 UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards Open for Stage 1 Applications
Stage 1 Applications Now Open for the 2019 Green Gown Awards What's new and updated for 2019? Two exciting new categories - relevant to today's agenda Revised categories - making the Awards more relevant for you And maintaining the recognition of those with limite...
Posted on 1 April 2019
SSN Release PBCCD Analysis Report 2017/18
The Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) have published their 2017/18 Analysis Report based on the annual submissions from the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties (PBCCD) reports, which were submitted for the deadline of 30 November 2018. The analysis report covers all 180 Scottish Public...
Posted on 20 March 2019
EAUC launches new FE support package
Recognising the challenges that Further Education (FE) has faced for some time, EAUC has launched a new FE support package to foster knowledge exchange and provide additional support. We support the #loveourcolleges campaign, and want to see the Government prioritising investment in FE to e...
Posted on 12 March 2019
BAFTA and albert partner with UK universities to tackle environmental impact of screen industries
EAUC is incredibly proud to see Bournemouth University's 2017 Green Gown Awards initiative - ‘Greening the Screen’ - launched in collaboration with BAFTA and 10 universities. The initiative will provide students, staff and graduates with the opportunity to learn about environment...
Posted on 5 March 2019
UN requests EAUC support at UN Environment Assembly
EAUC has been requested to attend the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) next week in Nairobi, Kenya from 11 - 15 March 2019. The theme of the Assembly is ‘Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production’. At UNEA, the ...
Posted on 5 March 2019
SDG Accord reporting open for 2019
SDG Accord reporting is now open for 2019, and you can see the new and improved reporting requirements. The SDG Accord is a global initiative that brings together universities and colleges to help tackle the most pressing challenges of our time. Input forms a key educational update to the UN and ...
Posted on 4 March 2019
Fairtrade Fortnight - Cocoa farmers deserve a living wage
Each year for two weeks over February and March (25th February - 10th March 2019), Fairtrade Foundation puts a spotlight on trade through their Fairtrade Fortnight campaign. This year the focus is on ensuring cocoa farmers earn a living income by 2030 in line with the UN’s Global Goals to end ...
Posted on 4 March 2019
The Cup Movement in Glasgow
Almost 500 million single-use cups are used in Scotland each year. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of retailers and national recycling schemes, best estimates show that only 4% of these are currently recycled. With approximately 95 million single-use cups bought in the greater Glasgow area each y...
Posted on 27 February 2019
Call for evidence on SDGs progress in Scotland
In 2015, the First Minister confirmed that the Scottish Government would be one of the first anywhere in the world to commit to meeting the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development, both at home and overseas. Since then, all 193 UN member states have signed up to the 17 goals that seek to end pov...
Posted on 18 February 2019
UK institutions as places of civic good
The UPP Foundation Civic University Commission have released a new report this week, highlighting the role of universities as 'places of good'. The report makes some key recommendations, including a 'Civic University Agreement' - which 30 institutions committed to sustainabilit...
Posted on 13 February 2019
Go Green Week - What is happening?
This week (11th-15th February 2019) is Go Green Week and we are celebrating all of the initiatives being held to raise awareness of sustainability across the UK and Ireland. Aston University, University College Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Birmingham Metropolitan College, suppo...
Posted on 11 February 2019
EAUC-S Office Bearers Group seek University Rep
Do you know anyone with the interest and capacity to help the EAUC-Scotland team develop their support for sustainability in Scotland’s Universities? EAUC-Scotland are seeking a dedicated EAUC Member from the Higher Education Sector to join our Office Bearers Group (OBG), following the reti...
Posted on 7 February 2019
Sustainability Leadership Scorecard Deadline
At the best of times the multi-dimensioned thing we call sustainability can be confusing. Not least the myriad of ever increasing performance improvement tools, quality standards and reporting accreditations, which aim to help, but often leave sustainability leaders feeling overwhelmed, and our coll...
Posted on 7 February 2019
2019 International Green Gown Awards
Gain International Recognition - Make a Global Impact Is your institution delivering world-class leadership in sustainability? Deadline 28 February. Is it influencing and developing society and empowering its students to be agents of global change? The UN Environment endorsed Intern...
Posted on 6 February 2019
Go Green Week
Let's promote your Go Green Week activities! Go Green Week (11th – 15th February) is next week and EAUC want to know what you are doing to celebrate! We will be promoting Climate Action (SDG 13) with examples of best practice and resources to support you in the mission to reduce c...
Posted on 6 February 2019
Solar panels in clothes to charge a mobile phone
Nottingham Trent University has developed a way to embed miniaturised solar cells into yarn that can then be knitted and woven into textiles. Clothing embedded with tiny solar cells the size of a flea can allow wearers to generate electricity on the move and charge items like mobile phones and sm...
Posted on 8 January 2019
Key priorities for education in Brussels Declaration
Ministers and representatives of more than 60 countries, multilateral organisations, civil society, teaching, youth and the private sector alongside UNESCO as the UN lead Agency for education in the 2030 Agenda gathered in Brussels early this month, to seek consensus and strengthen the collect...
Posted on 12 December 2018
New Pan-Asia sustainability network and EAUC partnership announced at South Korean conference
‘There is no Planet B, so there can be no Plan B’ – that was the message from Ban Ki-Moon last week at the 4th annual Asian Conference on Campus Sustainability. Alongside the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, EAUC CEO Iain Patton gave the key note speech for the secon...
Posted on 4 December 2018
Embedding Sustainability in Teaching Courses Project
EAUC-Scotland are running a new project to support institutions to embed sustainability within teaching courses, and we need your help! Starting with four initial subject areas - economics, fine art, psychology and computer science - the project will consider the opportunitie...
Posted on 27 November 2018
UK Climate Projections 2018 Released
The UK Climate Projections 2018 study has been released by the Met Office, providing the most up to date information on how the climate of the UK may change in the period up to the end of the 21st Century. In the highest emissions scenario, which are looking likely based on current emission...
Posted on 27 November 2018
Queen University Belfast was awarded Gold Standard in the Cycle Friendly Employer Accreditation
Queen's University Belfast became the first employer in the UK to achieve the Cycle Friendly Employer Accreditation and the first to achieve Gold Standard. To gain this accreditation, the University had to demonstrate what measures are in place to show long-term commitment, support and ...
Posted on 19 November 2018
UK religious leaders call on the Prime Minister to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals
‘We believe that by working together we can build a future that is fair and just for all people, and a resilient and sustainable UK’ To mark the end of UK Inter Faith Week, religious leaders and faith-based organisations have come together in a letter to the Prime Minister to urge gre...
Posted on 19 November 2018
New study confirms sustainability skills are key to employability
The Global University Employability Ranking, published by Times Higher Education (THE), has this week revealed that institutions promoting sustainability skills are much more likely to produce employable graduates. This is a concept that the EAUC has espoused for a long-time, and has begun to tac...
Posted on 15 November 2018
University pledge to be single-use plastic-free by 2023
The University of Leeds and Leeds University Union have together pledged to become single-use plastic-free by 2023. Single-use plastic items are designed to be used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. The campaign, Single Out: 2023PlasticFree, crucially commits the University an...
Posted on 7 November 2018
WWF released a groundbreaking report on the current state of planetary natural capital
WWF launched an alarming report- Living Planet- looking at how exploding human consumption is the driving force behind the unprecedented planetary change we are witnessing, through the increased demand for energy, land and water. The products we consume, the supply chains behind them, the m...
Posted on 5 November 2018
£2 million donation boosts agriculture and food security research at RAU
PhD research into topics such as growing soybean as a profitable, low-carbon crop will continue to thrive at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) following a donation of £2 million. The RAU has received this research investment thanks to the John Oldacre Foundation, which supports ...
Posted on 1 November 2018
Government announces new plastic tax, but scraps latte levy
The Government announced yesterday in the Budget plans for a new tax on plastic packaging which contains less than 30% recycled plastic, subject to consultation. What was announced? To reduce the problem of excessive and environmentally harmful plastic packaging, and incentivise m...
Posted on 30 October 2018
Keele University launched The Institute for Sustainable Futures
On the 3rd October, Keele University launched its new major sustainability initiative, a cross-university research institute- the Institute for Sustainability Futures, structured around the SDGs and aiming to catalyse interdisciplinary research focused on contributing to a more sustainable futu...
Posted on 30 October 2018
Universities today face unprecedented levels of risk and uncertainty – but there is a solution
The EAUC is today launching a new Guide that highlights the business benefits of sustainability and explains why it is key to the success of higher education institutions. The Guide - ‘Sustainability: Key to Long-term Institutional Success’ - was developed by EAUC and the University o...
Posted on 24 October 2018
Update to SFC Outcome Agreement Guidance on Leadership in Environmental and Social Sustainability
New Scottish Funding Council Outcome Agreement Guidance requires all universities and colleges to develop individual 'creative and innovative' approaches to demonstrate leadership in embedding environmental and social sustainability across the whole institution In October...
Posted on 23 October 2018
