News
COP26 Universities Network - March Briefing
Net zero emissions targets have gained traction in the global effort to halt climate change. This new briefing from the COP26 Universities Network sets out the science behind net zero targets and the considerations that policymakers and industry leaders should take when adopting and implem...
Posted on 1 April 2021
New guidance on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
The launch of new guidance on Education for Sustainable Development in higher education, jointly published by QAA and Advance HE is intended to help UK higher education institutions to incorporate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within their curricula. The guidance comes at a time of ...
Posted on 1 April 2021
King's College London fully divests from fossil fuels
King’s College London has fully divested from all fossil fuels almost two years ahead of schedule. Since making a commitment to a full divestment target in 2017, King's College London have steadily reduced the exposure to fossil fuels from 7.3 per cent in 2017 to zero in 2021. Profess...
Posted on 1 April 2021
Green Gown Award Winners Announced
Green Gown Awards Celebrate Initiatives Playing Leading Roles in Addressing Climate Action In the first ever virtual ceremony, held on Wednesday 24th march 2021, the Green Gown Awards celebrated the inspirational work and projects of 74 Finalists in 12 different categories - showing the importanc...
Posted on 24 March 2021
Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy - Summary
Following the publication of the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy on Wednesday 17 March, we welcome the summary of key announcements prepared by our partners Aldersgate Group. The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy offers a positive direction and comprehensive take on the meas...
Posted on 19 March 2021
Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Update
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme have released the grant recipients of Phase 1 of the Scheme. A total of £33,312,689 has been awarded to the further and higher education sector. This is 4% of the total fund awarded of £932,248,184. Details of Phase 2 have been announced w...
Posted on 17 March 2021
Nearly three quarters of teachers lack training on climate change
New research by Teach the Future, which EAUC is glad to be supporting, has revealed that 70% of UK teachers have not received adequate training to educate students on climate change, its implications for the environment and societies around the world, and how these implications can be addressed.*1&n...
Posted on 17 March 2021
EAUC is supporting the 2021 ENACTUS UK National Expo
On the 12th – 14th April, 65 Enactus teams from across the UK will participate in the Enactus UK National Expo, which will be held virtually. Enactus believe that investing in students who take entrepreneurial action for others creates a better world for us all. Enactus develops university ...
Posted on 9 March 2021
EAUC attended the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into Green Jobs
On 3rd March (2021), Iain Patton, CEO at EAUC was invited alongside representatives from Education and Training Foundation (ETF), Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), Leicester City Council and Greener Jobs Alliance to look at how green jobs can help tackle the expected rise in unemploym...
Posted on 3 March 2021
Kickstart Scheme Placements Update
EAUC, Change Agents UK (CAUK) and SOS-UK are working together to support the Further and Higher Education sector create new and exciting fully-funded 6-month paid positions for 16-24 year old's this year through the government's Kickstart scheme. We are glad confirm that we can now ...
Posted on 18 February 2021
HE Climate Action Toolkit launched
Climate Commission launch Climate Action Toolkit to help Vice-Chancellors, Governors and Senior Leadership Teams in universities in tackling the climate emergency The Climate Commission for Higher and Further Education Students and Leaders is delighted to announce the launch of the Higher Ed...
Posted on 4 February 2021
What an online Go Green Week can look like?
While no formal date and theme on what Go Green Week should focus on have not been announced yet, we know that some EAUC members have plans to hold a series of virtual events either in line with Go Green Week or alternatives of it. Based on members' plans and other events taking place this year...
Posted on 29 January 2021
Universities and Colleges consider carbon offsetting in move to net-zero
How can Carbon Offsetting help UK Further and Higher Education Institutions achieve net-zero emissions? The EAUC and the COP26 Universities Network are pleased to launch the new guidance on offsetting to support the development of further and higher education offsetting policies. T...
Posted on 26 January 2021
Revised Scope 3 tool launched
We are pleased to announce that the Scope 3 emissions tool for the education sector - called the HESCET Tool - has been updated and is now available for use via your HEPA account. We encourage all member institutions to use the tool and look at the updated figures for input into the EMR (Estate Mana...
Posted on 19 January 2021
Launch of the Global Goals Teach In Campaign
The fourth annual Global Goals Teach In has launched and will take place 22nd February – 5th March 2021! The annual campaign calls on educators to pledge to include the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs) in their teaching and learning...
Posted on 15 January 2021
New EMR report and statement from AUDE and partners
AUDE has released it's Higher Education Estates Management Report 2020 and a statement alongside other key organisations on the necessity of the EMR data. This report represents the hard facts and accurate data for big choices in estates management and future investment. By bench ...
Posted on 6 January 2021
Global SDG Accord report paints promising picture of SDGs
The SDG Accord Report 2020, endorsed by UN Environment, paints a promising picture of the embedding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in universities and colleges across the world, despite the global pandemic. The findings from the third SDG Accord annual progress report show awarene...
Posted on 11 December 2020
Higher education in the era of climate change
New report urges universities to have zero carbon emissions by 2035 and to rethink knowledge and teaching practices for the era of climate change The Higher Education Policy Institute (http://www.hepi.ac.uk) has published a new report, Beyond business as usual: Higher education in the era of clim...
Posted on 10 December 2020
Sustainability Leadership Scorecard Annual Report 2020
Universities and colleges picking up the pace on sustainability, but must address curriculum reform More universities and colleges than ever from across the UK and Ireland have shown their commitment to sustainability over the last year. The 2020 Sustainability Leadership Scorecard Annual R...
Posted on 10 December 2020
EAUC Members reflect on the impact of Covid19
The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented challenges for the entire world and the Further & Higher education sector was not spared the mayhem of disruption. We at EAUC wanted to better understand how the pandemic impacted the sustainability community and how we can better support members dur...
Posted on 8 December 2020
​Disappointment at misguided Ofsted comments
Last week, at the launch of Ofsted’s 2019-2020 annual report, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman, said: "And increasingly we see efforts to commandeer schools and the curriculum in support of worthy social issues and campaigns. In the last year, many of these calls have been ...
Posted on 8 December 2020
UK sets new climate target ahead of UN Summit
The Prime Minister has today (Friday 4 December) announced a new ambitious target to reduce the UK’s emissions by at least 68% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. This is an increase of 15% from the previous target of 53%, and is in line with the recommendations made by the Climate Change Commit...
Posted on 4 December 2020
Sustainability Ambition in Education Week
It’s coming to the end of a tumultuous year and never has it never been clearer that we need to address the global challenges the world faces, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, justice and of course, health and well-being. So at the end of 2020...
Posted on 1 December 2020
University of Glasgow sets 2030 carbon neutral target
The University of Glasgow has pledged to go ‘further and faster’ in its response to the climate emergency with a raft of new commitments, including a target for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The ambitious aim is one of a series of actions set out in a new stra...
Posted on 30 November 2020
Become a net-zero college by using the FE Climate Action Roadmap
What can colleges do to tackle climate change? The recent plan to reach net-zero emissions unveiled by PM Boris Johnson last week comes as a confirmation that many colleges are leading the way. The FE Climate Action Roadmap for FE Colleges provides colleges with practical steps they can take...
Posted on 26 November 2020
Aston University named Guardian's University of the Year
Aston University has been crowned university of the year in the Guardian’s annual awards for its work eradicating the gap in grades between black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students and their white peers, as well as its emphasis on sustainability. In a year during which UK ...
Posted on 26 November 2020
Finnish universities commit to 12 principles of Sustainable Development
Carbon neutrality by 2030, sustainable development at the heart of strategies, and strong support for the Finnish Government’s climate and biodiversity goals. All of the above is included in the plans of Finnish universities through 12 mutual principles on sustainable development and respo...
Posted on 24 November 2020
Global Climate Conference - Day 5: Wild times and nature-based solutions
It was the final day of the conference today, and what a week it has been! We have been amazed and inspired by the range of plenaries and workshops from across the globe that we have been privileged to facilitate. Over the course of the week, we have seen over 1000 attendees from 18 countries (in...
Posted on 23 November 2020
Global Climate Conference - Day 4: Net Zero and Global Research
Today was the penultimate day of the extraordinary five-day conference ‘Global Climate 2020’, and there was no sign of let up, with four plenary sessions and the live launch of Mock COP26. The morning started with the sustainability topic on everyone’s lips this year; ...
Posted on 20 November 2020
UK PM outlines 10-point plan for green industrial revolution
The Prime Minister has set out his ten point plan for a green industrial revolution this week, which Government predicts will create and support up to 250,000 British jobs. The plan – which is part of the PM’s mission to level up across the country - will mobilise £12 bi...
Posted on 19 November 2020
Global Climate Conference - Day 3: Student engagement and climate justice
Another day of thought-provoking content at the week long EAUC virtual conference Global Climate 2020. The morning plenary started with an in-depth look at student engagement on sustainability issues and the power this has for transformation within institutions. Liliia Akatova, a studen...
Posted on 18 November 2020
Global Climate Conference - Day 2: The roles of community and the economy
Day 2 of the EAUC virtual conference ‘Global Climate’ was a continued success with a really strong international flavour to the day. The first plenary saw Magda Núñez, a student at USIL (Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola) in Peru, chair a session based ...
Posted on 17 November 2020
Invitation for Tender - Sustainability Leadership Scorecard
The Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) and the EAUC - the alliance for sustainability leadership in education, are inviting tenders for the supply of the Sustainability Leadership Scorecard (SLS) tool, associated services and consultancy. See further details attached. Intereste...
Posted on 17 November 2020
Global Climate Conference - Day 1: Hope and Solutions
The EAUC Global Climate Conference in Education started today, with over 1000 delegates enjoying the huge range of workshops and inspiring global plenary speakers. This year, students were offered the opportunity to attend for free, a hugely positive step to make sure they are gett...
Posted on 16 November 2020
Government infrastructure policy isn't fit for net zero, says report
The UK’s National Infrastructure Strategy is due to be published very soon which will set the UK’s priorities and provide visibility for investors. But significant shortfalls in the government’s approach to infrastructure policy and investment risk holding back efforts to shift the...
Posted on 12 November 2020
New student marketplace tackles waste on campus
Third year economics student Harriet Noy is determined to tackle single-use plastic and waste on university campuses. The entrepreneurial University of Birmingham student has launched a zero-waste student marketplace called Hazaar. Harriet is in the process of creating a tailored app to run...
Posted on 11 November 2020
The Climate Commission - One Year On
Thursday 5th November (2020) marked one year since the launch of The Climate Commission for UK Further and Higher Education Students and Leaders – the cross organisational initiative led by the Association of Colleges, EAUC (Secretariat), GuildHE and Universities UK. The event attended by...
Posted on 10 November 2020
New reports on role of universities in levelling up agenda
The UPP Foundation has released two reports on the role of universities in the ‘levelling up’ agenda, and on addressing the forthcoming employment crisis Key findings of the two reports (‘Levelling Up Towns Report’ and ‘Covid-19 Jobs Report’) : The Go...
Posted on 5 November 2020
Courtauld Commitment provides annual progress update
A new report released this week is demonstrating good progress being made in the food sector in the UK across all three Courtauld Commitment targets – food waste, carbon and water – in a challenging year for food and drink. The Courtauld Commitments are a series of voluntary agreement...
Posted on 5 November 2020
University of Strathclyde celebrate 15,000 sustainability actions
The University of Strathclyde is paving the way for sustainable institutions with a programme that has engaged thousands of students and staff to take positive actions. Since launching in 2019, Sustainable Strathclyde’s Jump programme has avoided nearly 16,000kg C02 emissions wi...
Posted on 5 November 2020
University of Edinburgh sustainable lab scheme cuts plastic waste and costs
A new approach could reduce plastic waste in a laboratory by more than 500kg a year and result in considerable savings, scientists at the Roslin Institute at University of Edinburgh found. A scheme based on plastic reduction and reuse has resulted in savings of more than £400 over a t...
Posted on 28 October 2020
New EAUC-Scotland Office Bearer Group Vacancies
Are you is interested in helping the EAUC-Scotland team develop their support for sustainability in Scotland’s Universities and Colleges? Do you know someone who might be? EAUC-Scotland are seeking two dedicated EAUC Members, one from the Higher Education Sector and one from the...
Posted on 28 October 2020
LSE launches ambitious plan to embed environmental sustainability across its operations
Share your Sustainability Commitments LSE has today (21 October) launched its plan to tackle the climate crisis and announced it will be the first UK university to become carbon neutral, for all the emissions it currently measures. This status will be achieved through ongoing ...
Posted on 21 October 2020
Skills deficit needs to be urgently tackled to get to net zero
In its latest briefing out today, 'Upskilling the UK workforce for the 21st century', the Aldersgate Group calls for urgent action to plug the deficit in skills that currently undermines the growth of low carbon supply chains across the UK economy. The Group calls in particular for a new l...
Posted on 15 October 2020
NTU study shows air quality danger for cyclists on busy roads
Cyclists are right to wear face masks to protect against pollution and bus passengers and pedestrians should consider them too, new research by Nottingham Trent University shows. A study led by Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh found that cyclists, pedestrians and bus passengers are the most expos...
Posted on 15 October 2020
EAUC launches Future Graduate Skills Study
New EAUC and Change Agents UK Future Graduate Skills Study examined what ‘sustainability skills’ are, which of those are important for employability prospects, and how they could be best instilled in students and young people. This piece of research is particularly relevant as it comes ...
Posted on 15 October 2020
2020 Green Gown Award Finalists Announced
We are proud to announce this year's Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland Finalists, in association with UKRI After a tough judging session, the applicants have been whittled down to 74 Finalists across 12 categories. This year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards’ Finalists, repr...
Posted on 12 October 2020
SUEZ lifts the lid on trends in student recycling
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK’s Lifting the Lid Higher report published today (28 September 2020) offers unique insight into trends in student recycling habits, showing steady progress with opportunities to raise future performance and encourage greater sustainability throughout the higher ed...
Posted on 5 October 2020
New Centre for Sustainability launched at University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde has launched a new Centre for Sustainable Development in support of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The new Centre, launched on 1st October, brings together all of the University’s education, research and knowledge exc...
Posted on 5 October 2020
New Aldersgate Report calls for urgent policy decisions regarding net zero emissions
Following extensive cross-industry and civil society engagement, the Aldersgate Group launched a new report today, Monday 5 October, setting out some of the key policy decisions that need to be taken in this parliamentary term to put the UK on a credible pathway to building a competitive, net zero e...
Posted on 5 October 2020
