A greener future for higher education

By Eliza.Compton, 14 November, 2024
Advice for inspiring, creating and supporting greener universities
A greener future for higher education
Advice for inspiring, creating and supporting greener universities
COP29 - the green campus spotlight artwork

An environmentally sustainable future rests on world-leading innovation, bold research, education, community engagement and knowledge exchange between scientists and industry. With the right approach, universities can deliver on all these elements, enabling some of our brightest minds to focus on tackling the climate crisis. As tens of thousands of delegates gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), this collection offers advice from global higher education on creating greener institutions, research and teaching. Resources cover practical actions to advance sustainability across the sector, from embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into courses and curricula to reducing waste and emissions on campus and developing the next generation of environmental leaders

By kiera.obrien, 4 November, 2024
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Universities have a critical role to play in increasing awareness of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Here’s how to do it
Reading time
6minutes
Embedding the SDGs in university teaching and learning
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By Eliza.Compton, 3 October, 2024
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The SDGs offer both a universal framework and a way to incorporate global perspectives into curricula. Here are strategies for integrating their outward-focused, innovative mindset into everyday learning
Reading time
4minutes

Interdisciplinary collaboration is key to solving the climate challenge and finding ways to live sustainably. These resources offer ways to embed sustainability into teaching, bring staff on board, and use projects to share that expertise beyond disciplinary silos.

Developing a new generation of sustainability leadership
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By Eliza.Compton, 27 June, 2024
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Successful or sustainable? Is this the biggest challenge that universities face when striving to reduce their carbon footprint? Jan Evans-Freeman explains where leadership fits into the equation
Reading time
4minutes

Long-term sustainability and resilience within higher education will depend on investment in greener campuses and actions that foster a culture of environmental awareness across institutions. While protecting the planet, this will also appeal to students for whom climate change is a major and growing concern. These resources look at the value of renewables, green space and recycling initiatives.

Managing waste, energy efficiency and carbon emissions on campus
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By Eliza.Compton, 26 July, 2022
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Can artificial intelligence be as green as it is integral to solving complex problems? As universities integrate courses on AI into different fields, they also need to show students its risks and costs, particularly for the environment
Reading time
4minutes
By Miranda Prynne, 17 October, 2022
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Carbon offsetting is a hotly debated issue, with critics positing that it distracts from real efforts to reduce emissions. David Duncan explains why a compromise position in which offsetting is used to complement focused efforts at carbon reduction may be needed
Reading time
4minutes

Universities understand the multiple benefits of sharing expertise. So, while travel comes with considerable carbon costs, events such as COP29 and other summits give climate and environmental researchers both formal and informal opportunities for discussion and knowledge exchange and to move thinking forward.

By Eliza.Compton, 5 January, 2024
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Should academics be travelling to events that could be done virtually? Drawing on her experiences at COP28, Denise Baden shares tips on how to make the most of these events – and why a chance to form alliances, learn from each other and share ideas for action make it worth being present
Reading time
4minutes
Centring the student voice in green initiatives
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By Laura.Duckett, 5 November, 2024
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As centres of knowledge and innovation, higher education institutions have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to lead by example in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. Here are ways to do it
Reading time
4minutes