The University is committed to continuous improvement in sustainability performance across the institution. We see this as part of our corporate responsibility as well as an important way of improving the quality of life of our staff, students and communities we serve. Annually, we review and set ourselves ambitious targets designed to help us move closer to achieving the vision for sustainability articulated in the University’s Strategic Plan.
We focus on a number of key areas:
Measuring and Reducing our Carbon Emissions
Climate change is the single biggest environmental challenge we face and as a result there are increasing demands on all organisations to account for their carbon emissions. The University has developed a Carbon Strategy and a Carbon Management Plan which have both been approved by the University’s governing Council. The Carbon Management Plan sets out costed projects that the University intends to prioritise over the next few years, to meet our 30% carbon reduction target by August 2014 and an ambitious stretch target of 40% reduction by 2020 against a baseline year of 2005.
Our carbon emissions are differentiated as follows:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the University such as mains gas, fuel oil and vehicle fuel used on site.
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions arising as a result of the University’s demand for electricity from the National Grid.
- Scope 3: All other indirect emissions that occur as a result of University activities. Examples include emissions from waste, travel (for example commuting and business travel), water use and procurement.
Further information is available HERE.
Waste and Recycling
Our Waste Management Strategy which is aligned with the University’s Sustainable Procurement Strategy, provides a basis for the responsible management of the University’s waste including avoidance (through purchasing decisions), minimisation and diversion from landfill. Total waste generation was reduced to 559 tonnes in 2011/12, 31% of which was recycled.
Further information is available HERE.
Travel
The University developed a Sustainable Travel Action Plan (STAP) in 2010/11 which is currently under review. The STAP commits the University to encouraging staff and students to walk, cycle or use public transport and to discourage, and thereby reduce, the use of private vehicles by those traveling to, from and between the University and when conducting university business.
Further information is available HERE.
Improving Biodiversity on our Campuses
The University has been Highly Commended by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in its category ‘Outstanding Contribution to Nature by a Gloucestershire Business’ for our on-going work to enrich the county’s biodiversity both in and out of the classroom.
Examples of projects undertaken are:
- Having formalised a partnership with the Bee Guardian Foundation, bee houses have been installed on The Park and Francis Close Hall campuses.
- A wildflower meadow area has also been established at The Park.
Further information on our biodiversity activites is available HERE.