News

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  Leaders call on Prime Minister to create socially just and green recovery from Covid-19 – 9th June 2020

  Richard Curtis CBE, Paul Polman, Michael Izza and leaders of more than 100 renowned companies, charities, universities, and trade associations call on the UK Government to ensure the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of UK Covid-19 recovery plans   The Sustainable Dev...

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  Race to Zero launch – 5th June 2020

  Today is World Environment Day which sees the official launch of Race to Zero, the global COP26 campaign, which EAUC through the work of the Global Climate Letter is endorsing. The campaign aims to mobilize leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a Healthy, Resilient, ...

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  New dates agreed for COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference – 29th May 2020

  The Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), with the UK and its Italian partners, announced on Thursday 28th May the new dates for the COP26 UN climate conference, which will now take place between 1 and 12 November 2021 in Glasg...

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  Latest EMR data released – 14th May 2020

  The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has released the latest Estates Management Record (EMR) today (Thursday, 14th May). These environment statistics are some of the most useful and telling when it comes to assessing where the Higher Education sector is with sustainable development and e...

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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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  English Climate Emergency Education Bill launched – 24th February 2020

  On Wednesday 26 February 2020, fifty students will be entering parliament on a mission to engage MPs and Peers in the need to repurpose the education system around the climate emergency and ecological crisis.   The group, who are mostly under 18, ranging from 13-26, created the Teach the Future ca...

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  Cabinet reshuffle and COP26 president (re)announced – 17th February 2020

  There were big changes in Westminster last week – and you would be forgiven for finding it hard to keep up. Many of the ministers replaced had only been in post for 6 months, after Boris’ reshuffle in July last year. While the biggest news of the day was Sajid Javid’s resignatio...

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  EAUC backs Teach the Future campaign – 6th February 2020

  EAUC has announced its support for the SOS-UK and UKSCN campaign ‘Teach the Future’ which calls for the whole education system to be repurposed around the climate emergency and ecological crisis. Already active in this field, EAUC has added its voice to the call for an education revol...

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  Apply to pilot the Charter Award Scheme at your university – 4th February 2020

  The UK Healthy Universities Network has been working closely with Student Minds as they lead the development of the University Mental Health Charter.  Student Minds has opened a call for three universities to pilot and test out the first stage of the Charter Award Scheme, a voluntary scheme to su...

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  Sustainable Strathclyde release new Guidelines for Climate Change Communication – 3rd February 2020

  Through collaborating with a series of academic experts, environmental organisations and communications specialists, Sustainable Strathclyde have released a set of six guidelines which aim to inspire more effective communication of climate change in the Scottish environmental sector.    In May 201...

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  Deadline to submit your Sustainability Leadership Scorecard data – 30th January 2020

  Sustainability Leadership Scorecard Report 2020 – Submit your data by Friday 28th February   Undoubtedly, the multi-dimensioned thing we call sustainability can be confusing, not to mention the ever-increasing performance improvement tools, quality standards and reporting accreditation, wh...

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  Environment Bill and food waste funding updates from Government – 30th January 2020

  DEFRA announced the speedy return of the Environment Bill to Parliament today (30th January) following the General Election. This, they say, underlines the government’s commitment to tackling climate change and to protecting and restoring our natural environment for future generations. They...

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  The University of Worcester named recycling champions – 30th January 2020

  Students collect more than 900 tonnes of recycling as part of campus clean-up RecycleLeague competition engages over 39,000 students across 10 UK universities The University of Worcester named recycling champions winning £15,000 to invest in sustainability initiatives Students across 10 univ...

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  Organisations demand action from PM on SDGs – 30th January 2020

  Organisations have demanded commitment from the UK Prime Minister to accelerate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   A group of organisations spearheaded by UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development (UKSSD), delivered a resolute brief to PM Boris Johnson this week. It outli...

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  2020 International Green Gown Awards Open – 28th January 2020

  The International Green Gown Awards, supported by UN Environment, recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges around the globe and are now open for the 2020 Awards cycle. The Awards are the most prestigious recognition of sustainability best prac...

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  C2025 Milestone Progress Report - WRAP – 24th January 2020

  The UK is making significant steps in reducing its food waste, with total food waste levels falling by 480,000 tonnes between 2015 and 2018 – a 7% reduction per person and equivalent of filling London’s Royal Albert Hall ten times.  The new data comes from sustainability not-for-pro...

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  EAUC-S Office Bearers Group seek University Rep – 16th January 2020

  Do you know someone with the interest and capacity to help the EAUC-Scotland team develop their support for sustainability in Scotland’s Universities? EAUC-Scotland are seeking a dedicated EAUC Member from the Higher Education Sector to join our Office Bearers Group (OBG), following the ste...

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  CCC urges UK to prioritise Climate Change action in 2020 – 6th January 2020

  The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) wrote to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, after his General Election win at the end of 2019, urging him to prioritise action on Climate Change for 2020. Reminding the Prime Minister that the world will be looking to the UK as an example of best practice in ...

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  General Election: now or never for the environment and climate change – 17th December 2019

  Following the success of the Conservative Party at the General Election, the Aldersgate Group urges the new Government to press ahead with a meaningful and ambitious climate and environmental agenda. Nick Molho, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said: "The Government’s policy deci...

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  Academic papers launched – 13th December 2019

  We have partnered with Emerald Publishing and are now delighted to announce that the academic sessions which have been selected for the EAUC Annual Conference 2018 have been included in a special edition of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. The papers published wh...

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  EAUC listens to members – 12th December 2019

  EAUC listens to its members and is a powerful voice within the wider sustainability sector Now at a time when EAUC has embarked on its most ambitious and significant initiative – the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Students and Leaders, it is our core objective to con...

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  We welcome Russell Group's support on the sustainability agenda – 10th December 2019

  The Russell Group, which represents 24 leading UK universities published a joint statement on Monday 9th December on environmental sustainability, setting out its commitment to tackling climate change through research, teaching and more sustainable practices. As home to world leading climate rese...

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  University of Suffolk joins fight to fix unsustainable food system – 10th December 2019

  A pioneering roadmap to transform the UK’s food sector is being developed by UKSSD (of which EAUC are a member). Their new Food Systems programme brings together cross-sector organisations to work on fixing problems throughout the system. Building on the recommendation in their landmark rep...

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  University Mental Health Charter launched – 10th December 2019

  The University Mental Health Charter was launched this week (Monday, 9th December 2019), co-created with staff and students from over 200 higher education organisations across the UK. It provides a set of principles of good practice that challenge universities to go beyond baseline requirements and ...

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  Learning for Sustainability Champions Training Opportunity – 6th December 2019

  Learning for Sustainability Scotland and EAUC-Scotland have developed the College Learning for Sustainability Champions programme to help college teaching staff address sustainability in their learning and teaching. As part of the programme, one ‘Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Champion&rsqu...

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  Submit your workshop proposal for CLIMATE 2020 – 6th December 2019

  Submit a workshop proposal for the EAUC Annual Conference - CLIMATE2020 taking place on 23 - 24 June 2020 at University of Bath! We have a responsibility as educators, as community pillars and hubs for research to proactively adapt, limit risks and seek solution to this catastrophic problem. In t...

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  Green Gown Awards 2019 – 26th November 2019

  Green Gown Awards celebrate initiatives that ensure a better tomorrow for young people As the Climate Crisis is increasingly recognised as the most pressing issue our world faces, the Green Gown Awards put a spotlight on the innovative and inspiring sustainability work taking place in universities ...

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  Next government must deliver on climate and the environment – 21st November 2019

  Today the Aldersgate Group publishes its manifesto report, Time for action: building a competitive and inclusive green economy, setting out key priorities for the new government following the General Election. The report – which received significant input from business and civil society organi...

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  Can university laboratories move away from single-use plastic? – 15th November 2019

  Kerry Cheek, SRS Projects Coordinator, has a background working in both laboratory research and in sustainability. Here, she reflects on a recent project in which she researched laboratory plastic waste at the University of Edinburgh. Why laboratory plastics? "I worked in a laboratory for tw...

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  EAUC announces launch of new Climate Commission – 21st October 2019

  UPDATE: READ MORE ABOUT THE LAUNCH EVENT HERE.  Together with Association of Colleges, GuildHE and Universities UK, we have partnered to establish a Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Leaders. EAUC is the initiator and secretariat of the Climate Commission and as a membersh...

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  The Environment Bill - progress and loopholes – 17th October 2019

  The Environment Bill landed for its first reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 15th October. The first reading is a formal stage that takes place without any debate. The next step is a second reading in which MPs debate the overall principles of the Bill. The date for this has not yet been se...

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