Us in the World · representatives from local, relevant interested parties, such as Rob Thomas,...
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26 July 2019 The University has achieved a First Class award in the 2019 People and Planet league table. This year’s results, published on Tuesday (16 July), place us 17th out of 154 universities and colleges assessed, a rise of four places since the league table was last published in 2017. Compiled through a mix of publicly available information and data submitted to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Estates Management Record, it covers a wide variety of areas, including policy, ethical investment, workers’ rights, education, food and many core environmental issues. This award reflects the significant and ongoing work the University has undertaken over the last few years. Between 2010 and 2016, we reduced our gas and electricity consumption by 24%. We were one of the first universities to commit to, and achieve, ‘zero waste to landfill’ and we have fully divested from fossil fuels. We were also one of the first to achieve the new, more rigorous, specifications for ISO14001 Certification for environmental management and last year we won a prestigious International Green Gown Award in the Continuous Improvement category. While there are challenges around balancing priorities relating to estate development and operational management, we are making good progress in engaging students in sustainability and working in partnership with the Students’ Union. Over the last two years, this partnership has resulted in us achieving Responsible Futures Accreditation from the National Union of Students in recognition of our work to embed sustainability and social responsibility across the formal and informal curriculum. It has also resulted in a significant on-site food waste composting project during the last year. Dr Peter Rands, Director of Sustainability Development, said: “I am delighted that once again we have achieved a First Class award in the People and Planet league table. This is an excellent accomplishment that demonstrates our ongoing commitment as a university community to building a sustainable future. ” Us in the World The complex case of making soybeans sustainable On the 10th of July Project 93, part of the CCCU Sustainability initiative ‘Us in the World’, hosted an open discussion with Professor Carlos Klink, Professor of Ecology at University of Brasilia, Brazil, titled “Conciliating production with conservation strategies in Tropical savannas. The Case of Brazil ”. Prof Klink, was Brazil´s National Secretary for Climate Change (2012-2015) and Deputy-Minister of the Environment (January-May 2016) during the previous government and is an expert in the Brazilian savannas, the Cerrado, one of the most biodiverse natural environments in the world. While soy derived products may be alternatives to meat consumption, there are questions about environmental sustainability of soybeans. Cerrado savannas have become Brazil ’s largest source of soybeans and pastureland, and a significant producer of rice, corn, cotton, sugarcane and ethanol. It is also home for a rich socio-diversity represented by several indigenous peoples and local communities that depend on the traditional use of natural resources to maintain their livelihoods. Profound changes in their composition and productivity may adversely affect their capacity to support humans, their activities and the ecosystem services they provide. Professor Klink argued that although agriculture and agri-food systems are at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a new political relationship between agricultural development and environmental conservation must be developed. He focused on the on-going transformation of the most challenging savannas of the world, the Cerrados of Brazil, where a new political relationship between agriculture and ecosystem conservation is being built. The discussion session was recorded and a podcast will be available through Project 93 in the near future. You can find all these stories and more by looking us up on one of the following platforms: cccusustainability.wordpress.com facebook.com/cccusustainability @cccuscn University achieves a first class award for sustainability
Transcript of Us in the World · representatives from local, relevant interested parties, such as Rob Thomas,...
26 July 2019
The University has achieved a First Class award in the 2019 People and Planet league table.
This year’s results, published on Tuesday (16 July), place us 17th out of 154 universities and colleges assessed, a rise of four places since the league table was last published in 2017.
Compiled through a mix of publicly available information and data submitted to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Estates Management Record, it covers a wide variety of areas, including policy, ethical investment, workers’ rights, education, food and many core environmental issues.
This award reflects the significant and ongoing work the University has undertaken over the last few years. Between 2010 and 2016, we reduced our gas and electricity consumption by 24%. We were one of the first universities to commit to, and achieve, ‘zero waste to landfill’ and we have fully divested from fossil fuels. We were also one of the first to achieve the new, more rigorous, specifications for ISO14001 Certification for environmental management and last year we won a prestigious International Green Gown Award in the Continuous Improvement category.
While there are challenges around balancing priorities relating to estate development and operational management, we are making good progress in engaging students in sustainability and working in partnership with the Students’ Union. Over the last two years, this partnership has resulted in us achieving Responsible Futures Accreditation from the National Union of Students in recognition of our work to embed sustainability and social responsibility across the formal and informal curriculum. It has also resulted in a significant on-site food waste composting project during the last year.
Dr Peter Rands, Director of Sustainability Development, said:
“I am delighted that once again we have achieved a First Class award in the People and Planet league table. This is an excellent accomplishment that demonstrates our ongoing
commitment as a university community to building a sustainable future.”
Us in the World The complex case of making soybeans sustainable On the 10th of July Project 93, part of the CCCU Sustainability initiative ‘Us in the World’, hosted an open discussion with Professor Carlos Klink, Professor of Ecology at University of Brasilia, Brazil, titled “Conciliating production with conservation strategies in Tropical savannas. The Case of Brazil”. Prof Klink, was Brazil´s National Secretary for Climate Change (2012-2015) and Deputy-Minister of the Environment (January-May 2016) during the previous government and is an expert in the Brazilian savannas, the Cerrado, one of the most biodiverse natural environments in the world. While soy derived products may be alternatives to meat consumption, there are questions about environmental sustainability of soybeans. Cerrado savannas have become Brazil’s largest source of soybeans and pastureland, and a significant producer of rice, corn, cotton, sugarcane and ethanol. It is also home for a rich socio-diversity represented by several indigenous peoples and local communities that depend on the traditional use of natural resources to maintain their livelihoods. Profound changes in their composition and productivity may adversely affect their capacity to support humans, their activities and the ecosystem services they provide. Professor Klink argued that although agriculture and agri-food systems are at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a new political relationship between agricultural development and environmental conservation must be developed. He focused on the on-going transformation of the most challenging savannas of the world, the Cerrados of Brazil, where a new political relationship between agriculture and ecosystem conservation is being built. The discussion session was recorded and a podcast will be available through Project 93 in the near future.
You can find all these stories and more by looking us up on one of the following platforms:
cccusustainability.wordpress.com
facebook.com/cccusustainability @cccuscn
University achieves a first class award for sustainability
26 July 2019
Canterbury declares a Climate Change Emergency Good news! Did you know that at the meeting of Canterbury City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on 17th July, there was a unanimous, cross-party decision to declare a climate change emergency for Canterbury and its district?
The motion commits the Council to set targets to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. Exactly a week after, the Sustainability team hosted the second meeting of the newly formed Canterbury Climate Action Partnership (CCAP), a sub group of the Canterbury SDG Forum, which is a community-led group established in 2018 joined with Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent to address some of the most pressing problems of the world today through the prism of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The initiators of CCAP are choosing to be guided by the activities of Bristol City Council, who lead the way on climate action at local government level in the UK. The CCAP are particularly
focused on reducing carbon emissions, but will be setting broader aims, including a publicity campaign to inform and engage as many residents as they can. Their current membership comprises representatives from local, relevant interested parties, such as Rob Thomas, Leader of the Council, several councillors, Extinction Rebellion, Youth Strike 4 Climate, Kent Police Eco Cops etc. Staff from the Sustainability team will continue to represent Christ Church.
Maz Hamilton, Sustainability Coordinator can provide any further information about the Partnership’s activity as it unfolds, if you’d like to know more.
Christ Church in Pictures
What’s Going On? Positive Headlines Worth Sharing
Mass-scale reforestation has ‘mind-blowing potential’ to combat climate change, finds study - Jul 5th, Positive News
Protest at Thanet Council demand strategy to protect environment - Jul 11th, Kent Online
Meet the UK’s first climate change teachers - Jul 17th, Positive News
‘World’s largest’ youth-led conservation scheme begins in Wales - Jul 18th, Positive News
Infant School pupils parade through Whitstable to help the planet - Jul 19th, Kent Online
Boots to replace plastic carrier bags with paper bags - Jul 25th, Positive News
Monthly Volunteer Team Action Morning - Sat 3rd Aug, 10am-12.30pm, Abbot’s Mill
Kent Vegan Market - Sun 4th Aug, 11am-4pm, Westgate Towers, Canterbury
Afternoon Tea - Tues 13th Aug, 1.30-3.30pm, The Chapel, North Holmes Road Site
Rebels Assemble (Extinction Rebellion) - Sun 18th Aug, 11am-1pm, AH3.31 Aug. House
Welcome Events - Medway - Mon 2nd - Tues 3rd Sept, all day, Medway campus
Welcome Events - Canterbury - Weds 4th, Thurs 5th & Sat 7th Sept, all day, Aug. House
Us in the World
