Blog subheadings
- Introduction
- A sustainability strategy will be published!
- How to make it count?
- What is the current strategy proposal?
- Timeline of events so far
Introduction
Albeit on-going climate change, extinction scale biodiversity loss and plentiful outstanding scientific research and engineering in house, The University of Sheffield is still failing on its path to deliver its 2020 carbon emissions reduction targets and has no strategy to deal with these on-going crisis on a local level. Hence, the University of Sheffield scores low in relevant carbon and sustainability league tables and rather than walking the talk, the organisation contributes to the crisis.
Time to develop a strategy that makes a real difference.
Time to develop a strategy that makes a real difference.
A sustainability strategy will be published
Finally, in December last year (2017), this strategy may actually start to form. After many years of campaigning and the inefficiency of existing sustainability structures in delivering change, the UEB finally agreed to develop a sustainability strategy.
Who is currently in charge of the process?
Joshua Barnes, communications assistant in corporate communications kindly explained that following the work of last years sustainability Task and Finish Group and UEB discussion, there would now be a steering group and operational sustainability committee, with Andy Dodman being the sponsor at UEB level. Tracy Wray and Duncan Cameron have taken on the roles of professional services lead and academic lead on sustainability respectively.
Likely, you have not heard about this decision and hence, we at CNU wanted to let you know. It is important that you know and that you tell others about it.
Since democracy does not work without transparency, and important decisions about the environmental sustainability are made often before making an effort of communicating the process, this is our attempt to fill in the gaps.
More importantly, if we know in time when and how structural decisions are made, we can have a bigger impact when it counts.
Who is currently in charge of the process?
Joshua Barnes, communications assistant in corporate communications kindly explained that following the work of last years sustainability Task and Finish Group and UEB discussion, there would now be a steering group and operational sustainability committee, with Andy Dodman being the sponsor at UEB level. Tracy Wray and Duncan Cameron have taken on the roles of professional services lead and academic lead on sustainability respectively.
Likely, you have not heard about this decision and hence, we at CNU wanted to let you know. It is important that you know and that you tell others about it.
Since democracy does not work without transparency, and important decisions about the environmental sustainability are made often before making an effort of communicating the process, this is our attempt to fill in the gaps.
More importantly, if we know in time when and how structural decisions are made, we can have a bigger impact when it counts.
How to get involved
- The students’ union already started to consult students in a recent consultation meeting and you can have your say in a fabulous online questionnaire. If you are a student, you can fill in the survey (please do): http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4166174/Sustainability-Consultation
- As far as it goes for staff and other University stakeholders, no official consultation with all stakeholders has been made at this stage of development. However, we will keep you in the loop if that changes.
- We have arranged a meeting with Duncan Cameron to better understand what is happening, talk to him about his framework proposal and most importantly learn about how we can contribute best.
What is in the current strategy proposal?
We have only seen a September draft proposal by the Task and Finish Group, which we know was further modified. This proposal was developed taking into account previous reports and proposals, including our Climate and Sustainability Strategy proposal with a Carbon Neutral Vision.
The September draft proposal we have seen suggests the development of a new governance structure and sustainability strategy. On governance, it proposes to create a small team of dedicated sustainability staff with their own budget. A ‘virtual’ team of academics, researchers, professional services staff and student representatives, with an interest and expertise in sustainability, should support their work from across the University. On strategy, the proposal suggests to publish a sustainability strategy that informs the work of the newly formed sustainability team. This strategy will be built around 5 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals to focus the strategy on environmental issues.
Unfortunately, we have heard rumours that the proposal to create a small team focussing only on sustainability was likely value engineered out in the version that the UEB approved. This could mean that the strategy has no teeth, as previous attempts to deliver on sustainability have shown. However, we are glad that the development of a strategy was indeed approved for a start and will try to make sure that improvement will be an integral part of it.
The September draft proposal we have seen suggests the development of a new governance structure and sustainability strategy. On governance, it proposes to create a small team of dedicated sustainability staff with their own budget. A ‘virtual’ team of academics, researchers, professional services staff and student representatives, with an interest and expertise in sustainability, should support their work from across the University. On strategy, the proposal suggests to publish a sustainability strategy that informs the work of the newly formed sustainability team. This strategy will be built around 5 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals to focus the strategy on environmental issues.
- Quality Education
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
Unfortunately, we have heard rumours that the proposal to create a small team focussing only on sustainability was likely value engineered out in the version that the UEB approved. This could mean that the strategy has no teeth, as previous attempts to deliver on sustainability have shown. However, we are glad that the development of a strategy was indeed approved for a start and will try to make sure that improvement will be an integral part of it.
Timeline of events so far
Our last update about the ongoing changes was done in August 2017 and you can read it here: https://www.carbonneutraluniversity.org/cnu-news/university-sustainability-governance-undergoing-changes
On 19 December 2017, the meeting minutes reveal that the proposal report from the Task and Finish group established that summer, suggested a strategic approach to sustainability. The UEB endorsed the development of a strategy and representation from faculties, professional services and the students’ union.
The full meeting minutes can be accessed here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.764184!/file/17-12-19_Minutes.pdf
The strategy will be developed over the coming months.
They are still formulating how this will be done, but Duncan Cameron has developed a possible framework, which he will present to the steering group later this month.
On 19 December 2017, the meeting minutes reveal that the proposal report from the Task and Finish group established that summer, suggested a strategic approach to sustainability. The UEB endorsed the development of a strategy and representation from faculties, professional services and the students’ union.
The full meeting minutes can be accessed here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.764184!/file/17-12-19_Minutes.pdf
The strategy will be developed over the coming months.
They are still formulating how this will be done, but Duncan Cameron has developed a possible framework, which he will present to the steering group later this month.
Your CNU coordinator team
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