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Sustainability

The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Time for Nature.’ Nature and natural capital are intrinsic parts of people’s lives and livelihoods around the world, we depend on it for the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the jobs we are employed in, the medicines we prescribe, the homes we live in and the families we support. It is important that we take the time to value nature and ultimately, to protect it and our future. 

Lockdown has provided an opportunity to further engage with nature and consider whether we will go back to the old ways of doing things. During lockdown we may have found some practices, such as virtual meetings, focusing on our own wellbeing and that of those around us, and shopping locally that that may forever change the way we do things and have a positive impact on the environment.

Having recently been able to leave the house after nine weeks of shielding, it reminded me of how we can take for granted what is right outside our front door. I have a newfound appreciation for getting out on my bike and taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside around us. After re-engaging with local biodiversity, I am delighted that the University’s first Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) has been developed under the guidance of the Ecological Advisory Panel and based on the outcomes of the biodiversity baseline survey. The new action plan is expected to be published later this year but a summary of the current state of ecology on our estate can be viewed online now.

Having been with the Environment and Energy Section since its creation in 2013, I’ve seen what can be achieved with commitment, resources and sheer hard work. I am particularly proud that we were the first University in the world to set a science based target for carbon reduction and of the transparency we exhibit in our reporting. World Environment Day is a time to celebrate our achievements but also to push for more – a challenge we as a section work towards every day.

I want to end by taking the time to recognise the staff and students who are continually working towards a better, more sustainable future. I’d like to say a heart-felt thank you for your efforts to support the University in reducing its environmental impact, not just in terms of biodiversity but across all themes of our Environmental Sustainability Vision, Policy and Strategy. This year’s environmental sustainability report will be published in the next few months and will set out the progress we have made. While there is still more that we can and will do, we would not have got so far without the support of the University community, thank you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Joanna Chamberlain

Head of Environment and Energy