Information on strategy, policy, the Sustainability Management Board, and our Environmental Management System.
Here at the University of Greenwich we are always looking at ways to better our impact on the planet. We're were recently ranked as one of the world's top 75 universities for climate action so it's a topic we are passionate about. Pledging to be Net Zero by 2030 further affirms our commitment to move in the right direction and take action to ensure the planet is well looked after
Prof Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor
We strive to make significant improvements in all areas where we have an impact or influence, driven by our Sustainability Policy. We have a policy consultation every two years, with an annual sign off by our Vice-Chancellor and is audited as part of our ISO 104001 environmental management certification. Our annual sustainability reports provide our progress against KPIs and key projects.
The overarching Corporate Strategy; This is Our Time reflects our responsibility from the Vice-Chancellor in delivering sustainability across teaching, research and operations. The Curriculum Framework, launched in 2020, pushes for this teaching, embedding sustainability across all disciplines so our students know how their skills can solve the global challenges of today, and tomorrow.
The university will create a green and sustainable university and actively encourage and support sustainable development and principles of sustainable learning and teaching practice in curriculum development and delivery.
This is Our Time Corporate Strategy, Page 20
The university is from April 2024 developing the Sustainability Strategic Action Plan (SSAP), the strategic document that will ensure sustainability if fully integrated into our core areas of work. This includes teaching and learning, research and knowledge exchange, net zero and our non-carbon environmental and social areas of work amongst others. The SSAP will be completed in September 2024 and we are currently consulting on the high level ambition and actions.
Consultation will be undertaken across our faculties and directorates and importantly will include the student voice with consultation with our student community to ensure we have the focus and ambition needed to ensure we fully address our sustainability responsibilities. If you need further information contact sustainability@gre.ac.uk
In recognising our own impacts as a University, our ambitious Net Zero by 2030 strategic plan commits us in bringing down our carbon footprint by eliminating the burning of fossil fuels in our operations in addition to reducing our business travel emissions by 50%. An in-depth analysis of our carbon footprint can be found here.
Our Estates Strategy builds from the concept of net zero in how we integrate sustainability into our buildings with our Green Travel Plan helping our staff and students make greener and healthier travel choices. This document highlights examples of some of the key strategy areas we deliver against and includes KPI’s we seek to achieve.
We know that sustainability cannot be delivered unless we create effective partnerships with stakeholders from within the university to a global level. We work closely with the Partnership Hub and this work illustrates how the university has played an active role engaging and motivating local partners and university staff to create more sustainable communities.
Sustainability Management Committee (SMC)
The governance of sustainability starts at the top. Our Sustainability Management Committee (SMC) is chaired by Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Westby, who has written a signatory of intent. The group has representatives across our Faculties and Directorates at a senior level for a collaborative approach to sustainable development. One of the elected Students' Union Officers is present to ensure everyone has an equal voice in making strategic decisions. The Terms of Reference provides how the group operates and how it manages the review of KPI's and policies. Sub-committees for specific action areas are established, and feed in when required.
Notable SMC minutes are fed into the Health, Safety Sustainability and Wellbeing Board where items are discussed with actions taken to the Vice Chancellors Executive. This Board has wider representation including Trades Unions.
The university provides funding for the staffing and delivery of projects within the Sustainability Team, including ecosystems services, circular economy, carbon efficiency and engagement. In recognition of our its importance an additional capital plan strategic fund (the fund will be reviewed at point of award against the operational and financial environment at that time) with a multi-year time frame, awarding £500,000 per year. In 2020-21 this has been used to fund the Net Zero Carbon Action Plan plus an almost £500K investment in intelligent energy saving heaters in our Avery Hill Halls.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
The UN defines ESD as: “a vision of education that seeks to balance human and economic well-being with cultural traditions and respect for the earth’s natural resources.” The student demand for sustainable development has never been higher, and with the climate and biodiversity crises, it has never been more importance to educate and support our students in navigating these great challenges. As a teaching institution we must ensure our students have the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with local to global issues, and regardless of career sector can drive forwards positive change for a sustainable legacy.
In 2015 we started our approach in delivering ESD by presenting opportunities to our Academic and Quality Standards Committee. In 2021 the University launched the Curriculum Framework, which has 8 teaching dimensions and acknowledges that all education will have to integrate sustainable development into its structure. You can view our courses for a greener future list here. We know that a sustainable society cannot be delivered without collaboration, research and partnership, with a variety of our students and academics incorporating sustainability into their research which you can view samples of here.
The institutional lead for the Curriculum Framework is Professor Jenny Marie, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education, responsibility for this and the Student Success Sub Strategy is with Professor Vanessa Lemm, Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Provost.
Sustainability Related Policy & Announcements
- Our Ethical & Long-term Investment Policy (All investments must be made on bases that are consistent with the mission and values of the University, and the current strategic plan. The policy details how the University will not invest directly in a number of companies whose business relates to a number of industries, including fossil fuels).
- Our Treasury Management Policy (Treasury management encompasses the management of the institution’s cash flow, banking, and capital market transactions, the effective control of risk associated with these activities, and the pursuit of optimum performance consistent with that risk).
- Our Press Release on the Divestment from Fossil Fuels
- Green travel to and from our campuses, with the Green Travel Plan 2022-27 setting our sights on improving fleet vehicles, business travel and commuting to set us on a path towards net zero carbon by 2030.
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
Our Estates & Facilities Directorate (EFD) is proud to operate to international ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management) standards. IS14001 is a voluntary international standard set through environmental management systems (EMS) to reduce impact and risk.
An EMS is a set of processes and practices that enable organisations to reduce environmental impacts, increase operating efficiency and integrate sustainability thinking into operations. It requires senior leadership in addition to operational innovation and collaborations to allow developments without overusing limited resources. This includes waste, energy and utilities, transport, construction, training, legal requirements, emergency plans and natural grounds management.
Our EMS allows us to increase cost savings and efficiency, reduce environmental risks and ensure collaboration occurs between staff. Where issues occur, ‘non-conformances’ are raised that require corrective action to route cause, ensuring the issues do not arise again in the future. We have a team of staff and students (contact us if you want to join) who conduct internal audits to our processes to an annual programme. Externally, surveillance audits occur annually, with a full re-accreditation compliance audit every three years done against strict criteria. We have been accredited since 2012.
Policies and Reports
Find how our core principles become reality.