News

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  A net-zero emissions economic recovery from COVID-19 – 5th May 2020

  As the world emerges from the crisis of COVID-19, governments will introduce recovery packages to boost economic growth, including in the UK. These will have a highly significant impact on the UK’s future prosperity, including its potential to meet its legally mandated net-zero emissions oblig...

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  Oxford University announces fossil fuel divestment – 4th May 2020

  University of Oxford has announced landmark plans to divest formally from the fossil fuel industry.   As well as divesting its endowment from fossil fuel companies, the University has also asked its endowment office, Oxford University Endowment Management (OUem) to engage with fund man...

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  Times Higher release SDG rankings – 23rd April 2020

  SDG rankings – who, what, when, where, why? Times Higher Education (THE) released their Global Impact rankings on Wednesday, 22nd April, timed well with Earth Day. This is the second year of reporting for these relatively new rankings, and the findings are always interesting for the sector....

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  University of Nottingham crowned ENACTUS UK 2020 National Champion – 17th April 2020

  On the 6th and 7th April, the top 27 Enactus teams of Next Generation Leaders from Universities across the UK competed virtually in the 2020 Enactus UK National Expo.  The dynamic, energy-filled online event brought together virtually over 1,000 university students, academics, and senior UK busin...

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  Plastics ban in England delayed – 17th April 2020

  The Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Agriculture (DEFRA) have announced the plastics ban on straws, stirrers, and ear buds will not take place this month. The ban was due to come in at the end of April, but has now been pushed back until October due to the coronavirus pandemic. A ...

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  Net zero and nature-based intervention - new advice released – 16th April 2020

  The Natural Capital Committee (NCC) has released advice on using nature-based interventions to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The NCC advises the government on natural capital, such as forests, rivers, minerals and oceans. Set up in 2012, with a brief hiatus in 2015, the Committ...

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  Seeking New Trustees - Join our Board – 14th April 2020

  We have TWO available trustee positions for election ahead of our 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM). Only Educational Members can apply.   This year we’re looking for motivated and dynamic Trustees and are seeking applications that are:   Sustainability Professional / Practitioner Fro...

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  Ministers urged to remember Climate Crisis commitments – 8th April 2020

  With COP26 postponed until 2021, the extra time gives the UK an opportunity to deliver greater success in the talks, says the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) Chair Philip Dunne. However, they warn that it is vital the delay does not lead to the climate crisis slipping down the list of priorities...

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  Government announces COP26 postponed due to COVID-19 – 2nd April 2020

  The COP26 UN climate change conference set to take place in Glasgow in November has been postponed due to COVID-19. This decision has been taken by representatives of the COP Bureau of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), with the UK and its Italian partners. Dates ...

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  100% Green Lab accreditation at the University of Bristol – 1st April 2020

  The University of Bristol has a strong track record of sustainability action and became the first university to declare a 'Climate Emergency' in April. With sustainability high on the agenda, there is increasing pressure to demonstrate our commitment to reducing the university’s environmental ...

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  EAUC-Scotland Funding Renewed by SFC! – 31st March 2020

  Funding confirmed to accelerate response to climate emergency We are pleased to announce that EAUC’s bid for funding for the next phase of its work has been approved by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). We will deliver our new outcome agreement ‘Accelerating action and leadership in...

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  2020 Green Gown Awards Applications Deadline Extended – 31st March 2020

  We appreciate these are unprecedented times and we have carefully considered the options for this year’s Green Gown Awards ahead of launching our call for applications. Upon reflection, we believe that institutions should still have the chance to be recognised for their excellent efforts an...

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  EAUC Update and response to COVID-19 – 18th March 2020

  Across the world, the situation surrounding COVID-19 is moving rapidly and the pandemic is also at the top of the Further and Higher Education sector’s agenda where it is likely to stay for some time. Despite the social and economic disturbance caused, we often see reports on how the planet ha...

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  New EAUC-Scotland Resources to Support the Sector in Addressing Business Air Travel – 12th March 2020

  On March 12th, 2020, EAUC-Scotland is releasing the Travel Better Package to support universities and colleges in addressing business air travel to reduce carbon emissions and the environmental impact from flying. The package has been developed with funding and support from the University of Edinbur...

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  New EU Circular Economy Action Plan launched – 12th March 2020

  Yesterday, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan - one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal, Europe's new agenda for sustainable growth. With measures along the entire life cycle of products, the new Action Plan aims to make the EU economy fit for a ...

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  Circular Economy essential to fight against plastic – 10th March 2020

  In response to public pressure, the government is tackling plastic pollution by addressing individual uses of plastic, like some plastic bags and microbeads. While bans on items likely to damage the environment are necessary, this approach completely fails to deal with the root of the problem and, w...

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  Chancellor announces tampon tax scrapped – 10th March 2020

  The Chancellor has today announced in the first Budget of 2020, among other measures, that the tampon tax has been scrapped. This is overdue, and we would like for institutions to take this opportunity to renew efforts in the fight against Period Poverty and ensure they are providing free sanitar...

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  COP26 President discusses priorities – 9th March 2020

  COP26 president Alok Sharma gave his first speech in post to the UN last week. He outlined his priority actions areas for COP26 and 2020. Adaptation and resilience. ‘Helping people, economies and the environment adapt and prepare for the impacts of climate change.’ Nature. ‘S...

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  Nottingham Trent University records 63,000 positive sustainability and wellbeing actions – 5th March 2020

  Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has completed over 63,000 positive actions as the University celebrates a successful first year of Green Rewards. Since the launch of the Green Rewards programme in January 2019, NTU has avoided over 80 tonnes of CO2 emissions, completed 90,000 miles of active tr...

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  New OfS paper shows move towards sustainability – 25th February 2020

  Since HEFCE was disbanded in 2018 and replaced by the Office for Students (OfS), there has been a gap in formal policy oversight and regulation for the Higher Education sector on sustainability and emissions reduction. In particular, EAUC has been a vocal opponent of the decision to remove the manda...

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