University of Greenwich Commits to Achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2030
The University of Greenwich has released it’s Annual Sustainability Report for 2022-23. The report showcases the progress it has made, including achieving the 8th position in the People and Planet University League table.
The report highlights that the university ranked 86th in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking out of 1,700 universities globally, and joint 14th in the world for delivering outcomes against the Sustainable Development Goal 17 focussed on partnerships.
The report shows that these achievements are only made possible by a collaborative effort from all of the staff and students that contribute to the university’s sustainability goals each day through their positive behaviours and actions.
Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor and CEO, said:
This is a fantastic achievement for the university. To continue to rank so high on the list requires everyone in our community to do their bit and shows the entire university is committed to tackling the most pressing sustainability related issues.
The Annual Sustainability Report is now in its eighth year. The report is published to ensure progress is measured and commitments to functioning as a socially responsible and sustainable institution are maintained.
Sustainability provides a perfect tool to support the principles of delivering value by considering a holistic approach that reduces impacts and creates opportunities throughout the university. The university believes it has a significant role in improving the needs of society and protecting natural systems.
The report analyses performance in key areas and against set targets covering:
- Energy
- Carbon
- Transport and Travel
- Water
- Waste and Recycling
- Sustainable Food
- Ecosystem Services
- Construction and Refurbishment
- Environmental Management System
- Education and Research
Highlights for 2022-23 include:
- the launch of a Green Champions Network that had 65 staff in the weeks following its launch
- winning the Silver Award for the Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative
- recognition for the work delivering fairtrade by achieving level 1 in the Fairtrade University accreditation
- launch of GREen Rewards, an online platform, which rewards staff for the sustainable behaviours they take.
There is a lot of work being done locally across the university, by individuals in both the academic and professional services teams. Teaching staff have been helping ensure sustainability is integrated within their subject areas, and staff have been actively tackling their environmental footprint through energy saving and resource reuse action.
Students also continue to have a significant impact, with over 13,000 items donated to the British Heart Foundation through the end of term reuse scheme.
The university recognises too that there is still more to be done, such as tackling the recycling rate through better waste segregation and reusing hot drinks containers, and also encouraging staff and students into green spaces to improve their wellbeing and awareness of nature.