Net zero week: What role do universities have?

The UK has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and universities are powerhouses of sustainable transformation, through their world-leading research, teaching green skills for the future and good practice on their own campuses. We know that students highly value climate leadership from their institutions, and universities across the UK are increasing their commitments to decarbonise their own campuses and work.

We met with Fiona Goodwin, Deputy CEO at the EAUC - Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education to discuss their work, the higher education sector’s role in decarbonisation, and how we can celebrate the work of the sector.

Q: What role does the higher education sector have in helping the UK get to net zero?

A: The higher education sector has a vital role in achieving net zero. Firstly, there is the importance of public bodies such as universities to measure and report as well as reducing their emissions as part of the wider efforts for us as a nation to achieve our net zero target as soon as possible. The world is in a climate and biodiversity crisis and it is critical everyone plays their part.

Secondly, universities must equip their students to be able to not just understand the crisis but to also take action and come up with the solutions. The students of today are going to be the ones living in a very different world and it is the moral and ethical duty that universities act both in their operations but also across their teaching, learning and research.

It is therefore critical that universities listen to their own academics and scientists and put that advice into action. With 91% of students wanting their place of study to actively take action and with 74% of international students saying that how seriously the university takes global and environmental issues is most likely to influence their choice of institution – this is no longer a ‘nice to do’ add-on, if your institution wants to continue to attract both UK and international students you need to act now.

Q: You organise the Green Gown Awards UK and Ireland, as well as international editions of the awards – what is the value of celebrating work in this area?

A: At the heart of the Green Gown Awards is the dissemination between the leading institutions across the UK and the wider world. It is critical to celebrate those who are leading but it is more important to share what and how they have achieved it. I also think by sharing the areas that didn’t work so well is so valuable – so we can learn from others – we ask every applicant to identify 3 key learnings from their projects and these are really insightful! It is also crucial to learn from others across the world – universities are the anchors in their communities and we need to ensure that they are fit to survive in the coming years.  

Q: From what you’ve seen across the Green Gown Awards, what are some examples of the most interesting work being done in UK universities and colleges in net zero?

A: I think some of the more unusual, not expected, are really interesting. For example, University of Plymouth won a few years ago about how their dentistry students embedded sustainability across all of their areas of study. I think this really shows that sustainability is applicable to every discipline and how students take this agenda so seriously. This has now evolved into addressing systemic barriers for homeless people to access dental care.

The Sustainability Institution of the Year category is always inspiring – to really show that sustainability can really be a whole institution approach and can be at the heart of universities’ strategies and values. We also have a small and large institution approach to the Awards which really shows that you don’t need to have big budgets or large resources to take action – for example Borders College won the 2030 Climate Action category in 2022 proves that size isn’t everything – and the judges said both small and large institutions can learn from their approach! Also, the global reach can be awesome – the University of Newcastle in Australia had an initiative to bring daughters and dad together to enhance health and wellbeing as well as gender equity – this approach is now being replicated by the NBA, FIFA and many more across the world from South Africa to South America to USA.

Q: What are the emerging challenges in this area and how are universities rising to meet them?

A: We bring in new categories regularly to  stretch the sector and encourage them to take on new challenges. For example, the Money for Good category  looks into the financial side of sustainability – this is applicable for every institution, to look at the relationship and control they have over their money and investments.

Two other categories recently introduced are Nature Positive and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability. This is looking at the biodiversity crisis we are facing as well as the injustice and disadvantage the climate crisis can bring across society. We need universities to step up to these challenges and I look forward to hearing about the 2023 winners later in the year.

To hear more about the role of universities in net zero, Net Zero Week are running a webinar on 6 July, 12:00 – 13:00 with EAUC CEO Charlotte Bonner and the Open University on green skills.