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Symposium on Reducing Academic Flying

18/12/2019

1 Comment

 
If you are a lecturer, a post-doc, PhD student, or even a member of professional staff, or an undergraduate, at a UK university then there is a reasonable chance that you belong to the small minority of the world’s population that routinely take one or more flights a year.  Indeed travel - by which we often mean flying - is woven deep into the fabric of academia: conferences, seminars, workshops, research collaborations, PhD examinations, fieldwork, grant panels, learned society meetings, field courses, not to mention the increasing dependence on recruitment of international students for institutional financial survival, the list goes on.  Whether seen as a perk or a necessary chore, it is hard to imagine academia as we have come to know it without the rapid, cheap, international travel options flying provides.  But imagine it we must.  Aviation emissions account for a significant proportion of the total carbon footprint of academic institutions and, with no realistic prospect of technical solutions in the short- or medium-term, any aspiration to carbon neutrality in universities has to address the issue of international travel and the role flying plays in that.  
 
There have been an increasing number of voices over the last few years raising questions about the carbon footprint of academia, particularly of conferences, and a trickle of research papers seeking to quantify the problem, and understand what drives the need, but mainstream discussion has been slow coming.  If you look at the travel policies of most universities, while keen to explain their policy on cycle parking, or public transport (which are, of course, very important things), they are generally silent on the topic of air travel.

Against this background, it was refreshing and thought provoking to participate in a one-day symposium on Reducing Academic Flying, organised by Matt Watson (Geography) and Stephen Allen (Management School), held in ICOSS in early November.  The meeting fielded a range of excellent speakers from across the academic disciplines and across the world. In keeping with the topic of the meeting, non-UK participants delivered their presentations remotely and, in addition to those physically present at the meeting, another 100 or so people attended remotely, both hearing the presentations and contributing questions and discussion.  The meeting was run using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, excellently supported on the technical side by Elevate’s Tom Foster.

Presentations and discussions ranged across questions about why we fly, both in terms of understanding how the cultural framework of academia builds in expectations about travel and in terms of how practicalities bear on us differently depending on our circumstances (no ‘Eurostar option’ in New Zealand!).  Understanding these issues is key to being able to devise intelligent and equitable policies for flight reduction.  More practical topics also included the big challenge of how institutions collect accurate information on travel (if we have no data how do we know if we are improving?), and alternative ways of addressing some of the activities, such as conferences, that generate aviation miles (multi-hub semi-virtual conferencing - yes, can work!).  And, throughout, participants were not afraid to raise difficult issues, including reflection on what it means to society if academia continues with business as usual (violence by another name?).

The talks and discussions exposed some of the complexities of addressing the problem of reducing air travel and, whilst there are clearly no easy solutions, started to unpack some of these complexities. Until we have these honest conversations we cannot start to design workable solutions.  As the University moves into some of the tough discussions engendered by the forthcoming sustainability strategy, it was a stimulating experience to spend the day with a group of people who are thinking hard, and care deeply, about this particular element of the climate challenge we face.

The speakers all kindly agreed to make their presentations available and, with thanks to Mike Henline for editing the videos, Tom Foster for technical support, and to Matt, Stephen and all the speakers and participants, we are very pleased to be able to make the symposium talks available on the CNU webpages. They can be found in ‘Resources’ > ‘Reducing Academic Flying’. Have your thoughts provoked, share the link with colleagues, perhaps even respond, and let's help make these conversations happen.

Phil Warren

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A letter to reach out to our new University of Sheffield President and VC Professor Lamberts - about sustainability

25/6/2019

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Picture of our letter in VC office
Dear CNU community,

we have recently reached out to our new University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts to continue our mission to carbon neutrality by working together within The University of Sheffield.

We try to represent and interact with the whole University community - students, academics, professional staff and the Sheffield community to support a path to a sustainable future. Our University and universities in general have the ability and responsibility to be leaders in providing solutions to the climate crisis. That also mean to walk the talk and showcase that these solutions can be implemented successfully on campus.

The University is currently developing its new sustainability strategy, after publishing an initial paper on principles and direction entitled 'Sustainability Strategy - Year 1' in October last year.
We have closely followed, connected and supported this process and actively made our resources available to all participants.

As the highest executive at The University of Sheffield the direct connection between our President and Vice-Chancellor and his community is of major importance to allow good communication and the implementation of the best possible climate actions.

We have not yet met with Professor Lamberts, and hence a letter was submitted on the 30th of May, enclosing some of our history and relevant works, asking for an initial meeting.

We have received word that he has read the letter and are currently awaiting a response. Please find the full letter attached below.

Be sure that we will soon reach out to you for your input and feedback on the climate crisis for the purpose of this meeting with the VC.

In the meantime, please do get in touch if you want to get involved and join us at the upcoming CNU open meeting on Thursday (27 June, 5.30-7pm, Hicks Building, Room K14).

As soon as we hear more from Professor Lamberts, we will let you know.

Your lovely CNU coordinators. :-)

cnu_vc_letter_may2019_final.pdf
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University Response to our Strategy correspondence

23/1/2019

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We are glad to share the response we received to our open letter with regards to the newly published University sustainability strategy year 1 document.

The response was received on 14th of December from Tracy Wray, the Director of HR and Communications and member of the Sustainability Steering Group at the University of Sheffield.

***
"Dear Christian (and members)


On behalf of Duncan, Mel and I, firstly thank you for your email and your comments.

We have now reviewed this and would respond as follows:

We note your support for the new Strategy and welcome this.

In relation to Leadership and Governance, we would like to assure you that as described on the Sustainability web pages we have in place an established Steering Group, and a  Delivery Group with direct reporting to the University's Executive Board.  We have also in Corporate Communications refocused James Merryclough's role to focus primarily on Sustainability.  The Green Impact Coordinator is now co-located with James one day a week and working closely on all aspects of Sustainability.  In addition, we have secured strategic funds to support a graduate intern for 9 months to support the next stage of development of the Strategy.  Ongoing leadership is with myself in my remit as Director of Corporate Communications.

In relation to targets this is absolutely our intention and the reason for the more intensive consultation so that we can develop the Strategy further in this respect.  We will, in the new year, be publishing details of our planned consultation and timeline on our web pages.

In respect of an action plan, we already have one which we will build on further as our Strategy develops.  This has a range of actions within it taken from the current Strategy and we have agreed at the Steering Group this week the top 6 we will focus on in this academic year.  Again we will publish this on our web pages in the New Year.

Finally we note and appreciate your offer of support.  There will be opportunity to contribute to the development of the Strategy and we would be happy to meet you in the New Year to discuss this further.

With thanks and best wishes.

Tracy Wray
on behalf of Duncan Cameron and Mel Kee"

***

1 Comment

Carbon Neutral University's response to the University's Sustainability Strategy Year 1 document

10/12/2018

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Dear CNU community,

you are well aware that the University published it's Sustainability Strategy Year 1 document on 15th of October this year.

Available here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/about/sustainability/stories/sustainability-strategy-launched-1.810028

A document that was long anticipated and that we and many others in supported on its path of creation.

In the last two CNU meetings and further discussions with the engaged University community we have written a first response letter to this strategy. This was finally submitted to the Strategy steering group last Friday (7 December) and they have responded with thanks this morning and promised a detailed response.

Without further do we would like to share our letter below.

Your CNU team.

Our letter in full (7 December 2018):

"Since our foundation in 2012 as network of students, staff and members of the local community CNU have been calling for a university wide sustainability strategy, as a crucial step in enabling us to transition to becoming a zero-carbon campus and playing our part in this urgent transition within the city and wider society. To this end CNU has worked closely with the university, for example we were part of the carbon management group and helped develop a proposal for a Climate and Sustainability Strategy in partnership with the Grantham Centre which was published in 2016. Most recently we have produced our own guide to how universities can pursue a zero-carbon pathway.
 
We therefore read the University’s new strategy with great anticipation and interest and found much to be excited about. We welcome the bold agenda set out in the new strategy and the way in which its authors clearly appreciate the need to embed sustainability through all parts of the university’s workings, from education, to the campus estate, to its influence in the city and the wider economy.  The chosen theme of the SDG’s as a scaffold for the strategy is appropriate and usefully highlights key areas in need of attention. We can provide some more detailed comments on each section of the strategy at a later stage; but our comments here focus on the process of strategy development.
 
 
Building engagement with the Strategy
 
Whilst we are intrigued by the University’s novel approach to opt not to establish a clearly defined team or ring-fence a specific sustainability budget but instead to embed sustainability into existing governance structures (thereby avoiding the risk of the issue being siloed as a separate and isolated ‘Green’ concern). However, we are concerned that without clear direction and leadership from UEB the issue of sustainability could once more be side-lined by competing priorities and demands upon people’s time.
 
We are encouraged by the new document’s focus, its broad view of sustainability and its scientific approach to setting targets that are necessary to meet the sustainability challenges we face (i.e. where we must head), we do still have some concerns that the University’s approach as it stands is too vague and does not have a worked out plan for how to achieve its goals (i.e. how to get us there).  A key conclusion of CNU’s recent report is that achieving sustainability depends not only on having the right targets but on how we go about changing institutional systems and cultures to draw on the skills and knowledge of all our members to enable them to contribute to the solution.
 
Over this first six months following the launch in October, a clear process needs to be established which details how students and staff members can contribute to the development of the strategy.  It is important that this process has skilled professional input in terms of facilitation and recording to ensure as many people as possible are engaged in strategy development.  For example, the 5-year strategy development for the University is led by a professional team headed up by Dr Tony Strike.  Involving this team would ensure a professional and integrated approach is taken, which is appropriately resourced.  This could also integrate the sustainability process fully with other elements of the University’s upcoming strategy from 2021.
 
It is our view that an approach similar to that of The University of Leeds whereby we produce both a ‘strategy document’, outlining how staff and students will be resourced and mobilised to make change, should be accompanied by an ‘action plan’ which sets out a series of ambitious annual goals and targets for each of the key SDG’s and how these will be communicated. It is also important that the progress towards the goals be publicly and transparently reported on an annual basis and that the strategy should be revised should we fail to meet our targets.
 

In conclusion
 
In order for the University community to best contribute ideas, goodwill and expertise to the strategy’s development, we strongly encourage the publication of a clear timed action plan for year 1. In order to track progress, this plan should contain what is to be done, who is responsible and by when a certain outcome should be achieved.
 
We stand ready to help in any way we reasonably can with the next stages of this process.  We would welcome a conversation on how we can best offer support.
 
We thank everyone who has been involved in the development of the strategy to date.  Its ambitious aims, and willingness to ask the difficult questions, provide a strong foundation for the vital work ahead.
 
With best wishes,
Carbon Neutral University Network Coordinator Group"
1 Comment

Invitation to our 'Zero Carbon University Guide' launch

12/10/2018

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Dear CNU community,

it is time... high time... to launch our possibly biggest and most ambitious projects yet - our new guide to zero carbon universities. 
Entitled 'Changing Systems: Not Just Lightbulbs' this guide has been a 16 month labor of love for our guide working group, following a 2-day workshop last year.
 
We invite you to join us for the launch next Thursday as part of the University of Sheffield Sustainability Week that you hopefully already heard of.  

To book a place, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zero-carbon-universities-guide-launch-tickets-50967858236

Guide abstract:
“The Guide focuses on ways of engaging people right across the whole spectrum in a university, and building collaboration across the boundaries of academic disciplines and status.  It also explores the value of engagement with the local community, and how developing small-scale prototypes can be a powerful tool.  We set this in the context of systems thinking – recognising that the challenge of building pathways to zero carbon is highly complex and multi-faceted.  We argue that universities can step into a leading role in the social transformation that’s needed.”

Guide online resources:
To allow for maximum usefulness of the guide, the guide and its full set of associated online resources will be available on launch day via its dedicated webpage:
https://www.carbonneutraluniversity.org/zero-carbon-university-guide.html

Launch details:
Date: 18 October 2018
Time: 5-6.30pm
Location: Studio, Level 2, Students' Union (S10 2TG)

Launch agenda:
  1. Welcome and introduction to the Carbon Neutral University Network.
  2. Followed by Adam, our lead author and project coordinator, introducing the new guide, and a participatory exercise to show you the guide in printed form and gather some thoughts.
  3. Then we are lucky to have Katie McGuire, Deputy Director of Sustainability at the University of Leeds talk tell you a bit about their sustainability journey, and Jamie Agombar, Head of Sustainability at the NUS, who will give us a brief impression of sustainability at the NUS.
  4. The event will be wrapped up with a Q&A session including the speakers. 
Social: There will be an opportunity to meet after the event in the Uni Arms pub and continue discussions.

Following the event there will also be 2 more opportunities for climate action and networking that same evening.
1) The Climate Change Communication Hub will meet at 7.30-9.30pm in Workroom 3 (Diamond Building).
2) The Student sustainability committee is running a pub quiz for students and our student society will join (7-9pm, Interval). 

Now... although the email is already long enough, we wouldn't like to miss this opportunity to give a special mention to the University of Sheffield Sustainability Strategy launch! 

The first version of the University of Sheffield Sustainability Strategy will be revealed on Monday (15th) at the start of the Sustainability Week. We are really excited to see it and would really encourage everybody to attend the launch events on Monday - and of course our guide launch event on Thursday. 

More details on all 'Sustainability Week' events are available here -
please book your tickets: 
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/about/sustainability/stories/sustainabilityweek2018-1.807335 

We would really love to see you at this launch event because the guide does not change systems by itself - it needs you.

Thank you. 

Your CNU Guide writing team and CNU coordinators. 
Picture
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Please help on our Activities Fair stall on 20 September

9/9/2018

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Picture
Dear CNU students and supporters,

we need your help to talk to new students during the Activities Fair at the Students' Union on 20 September from 11 to 15.30.

As you may already know our CNU Student Society will have a stall at this years activities fair and would like to invite you to join and help us during the day.

As our members, you are already aware of the climate crisis and know how important climate action is at our University. During the Activities Fair we engage with new students and talk about climate action here at our campus. In the process we can make people more aware and we hope to engage a new generation of climate change ambassadors in our student society.
We already have a number of students and society coordinators for the day, but we could really do with more helpers to join in and really get a large intake this year.

The CNU student society has arranged for a first follow on meeting on 26th of September, where any new members are invited to come to and get to know each other.

Why is it so important this year?

There are so many reasons, but it is specifically a very important time for sustainability at our University. The University of Sheffield will soft launch its first sustainability strategy during the week commencing 15th of October and have invited us to participate.

We will definitely be part of this week of events and we really need many people involved to plan, organise, lead and participate. The more new students we can get involved - the better!
Please reply to carbonneutraluniversity@gmail.com
if you can help on September 20th for an hour or two and we will get in touch.

This would really make a difference for us!
Thank you!!

Your CNU student society coordinators,
Marisa, Sophia, Dyanda, Lucy and Jack.

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Next open meeting this Thursday 2nd August 5.30pm

31/7/2018

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Dear CNU friends and supporters,

another month has gone by and record temperatures have hit the world again.

There is really no time to waste boosting our efforts to reduce carbon emissions.


So if you are in Sheffield and feel like getting involved, why not come by our next monthly open meeting to hear about ongoing and new projects that reduce carbon emissions locally.


We will meet this Thursday:

Date:        2 August 2018
Time:        5.30-7pm
Location:  Room K14, Hicks Building.

Many of our current projects are around climate communication, based on last years George Marshall 'climate communications' workshop. The recordings of this workshop is now available on our YouTube channel, including some fabulous short interviews with attending guests.

Well worth watching if you have a bit of time. The videos are available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgwZ6u9z4Fnf_2N82_X-Dxw/videos


During this Thursday meeting we will play a number of short audio interviews from the climate communication hub's barstool conversations project at the recent Sharrow Festival. With many thanks to our project team! Really exciting to hear what people know and think about climate change locally.


There is much more in the pipeline, such as our 'Systems change' guide, a whole new documentary and indeed some good progress with the all important University sustainability strategy. >> A launch event is in the making...

There is now also some more information about goals and progress of the University Sustainability Strategy available on the new overarching University sustainability pages here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/about/sustainability/strategy-and-governance


More on Thursday... and please bring good climate news stories and any projects you might want to share or get started.


Hope to see you soon... and if you can't make it please just get in touch via email, Facebook, Twitter!

Thank you.


Your CNU coordinator team.
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Upcoming open meeting - 5 July

3/7/2018

1 Comment

 
Dear CNU members and supporters, 

another month has gone and our regular meeting is near. 

It would be great if you could come along and contribute to our projects or start your own projects with our support. 

Here are the meeting details: 
Date: 5 July 2018
Time: 5.30-7pm
Place: Hicks Building, Room F35 

As usually, after the meeting we will likely have a drink and perhaps some food in the Uni Arms to socialise a bit. ;-) 

We currently
  • have several video training and projects going on
  • our Guide writing team is in the final stages of editing our 'guide to what works’ with regards to the needed systemic change around university sustainability (now adding illustrations, getting printing quotes etc) 
  • our climate communication team is engaging more and more people and develops projects such as the ‘pub stool conversations’ 
  • we follow the University sustainability strategy and are going to discuss progress and possible launch
  • and more

Bring any good news along, meet some of our CNU team members and get involved. 

Our climate needs all hands on deck. Unfortunately it is not just a nice coincident that we have so much sun! :-( 

Would be lovely to see you on Thursday. 

Your 
CNU coordinators 
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Upcoming events - AGM and general meeting

23/4/2018

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Event announcements

A quick overview of our upcoming events and meetings.

If you are a student interested in sustainability, we encourage you very much to come along to our student society AGM on 1st of May (see below). Free cake... ;-)

Also...
check out our new lecture series with Dr Aaron Thierry and our monthly general meeting. Everybody is welcome!

Your lovely CNU coordinators

>>>
3-part lecture series 'Courage in the Anthropocene' organised by our CNU student society.

The Carbon Neutral Society is excited to announce that there's going to be an excellent 3 part lecture series by Dr Aaron Thierry. Come and learn more about the impact climate change will have, what's driving it and what needs to be done to help.

I. 25 April, 5-6pm - 'Must we change?' Location: LT7, Hicks Building
II. 2 May, 5-6pm - 'Can we change?' Location: LT7, Hicks Building
III. 9 May, 5-6pm - 'Will we change?' Location: LT7, Hicks Building
>>>
AGM: CNU student society
The Carbon Neutral Student Society will be having its AGM next week and I'd encourage all those interested in continuing the effort to improve this university to attend and run for positions!

Date: 1st May (Tuesday)
Time: 16.00 - 17.00
Place: Hicks Building, F38

Committee positions to be filled:

1. President
2. Secretary
3. Treasurer
4. Inclusions and Publicity officer
>>>
CNU general meeting - 26 April
Our monthly meeting in April, to discuss ongoing projects and welcome new people, who want to know more about sustainability and carbon emissions in the University of Sheffield. An opportunity to meet some of the people behind the network and get stuck in.

Date: 26 April (Thursday)
Time: 17.30 - 19.00
Place: Hicks Building, Room K14

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UEB approved sustainability proposal - University of Sheffield

13/3/2018

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Sustainability approved for development in Dec 2017

Following from our last update from 20 February 2018, we have now obtained the final proposal of the University sustainability strategy proposal as approved on 19 December 2017 by the UEB (University Executive Board).

In the light of transparency, we would like to share the document with you to raise awareness of this early document that is to shape our future.

Please download/view the full proposal as pdf. >>>

ueb-approvedsustainabilityproposal_tuos_19dec2017.pdf
File Size: 72 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


As rumored in our last update, this final proposal lacks the suggestions to created a dedicated group of staff that only works on sustainability projects.
We think this is a major flaw in this current proposal, and will likely lead only to minor projects actually being developed in the near future.
However, the current version is a start and we all have to start somewhere...

As you may have already seen in the students consultation, happening over the last few weeks, dedicated staff is specifically mentioned in their questions.

Life cycle thinking and introducing sustainability to save our future, requires rethinking and undoing old behaviors on every level. Hence, we need dedicated staff able to address the larger picture and enable the utilisation of the collective intelligence  of our extensive University community.
Our current way of life and work at the University is unsustainable.

Let's build a path to a beautiful new way for our University - protecting the environment around us and ensure our current life is improving our future.

Christian
CNU Co-Chair

P.S.: We heard that there is a meeting of the steering or operational group this week (possibly 13th of March)  and will feed back any new developments once we know more. 



Some take away points from the approved proposal:
  • Andrew Dodman, Chief Operating Officer, is the sponsor for sustainability at the UEB level
  • Tracy Wray takes on the professional services lead for sustainability
  • Duncan Cameron takes on the academic lead for sustainability
  • Sustainability related issues will be added to the remit of the University's Health and Safety Committee (Note:  lack of a dedicated sustainability committee)
  • A steering group consisting out of Andrew Dodman, Tracy Wray, Duncan Cameron and the Students' Union's Development officer (currently Megan McGrath) will oversee the development and implementation of the sustainability strategy - this steering group is to meet three times before the end of the academic year.
  • According to the proposal, this strategy and implementation should have been delivered by the end of February 2018. (Already delayed! The lack of dedicated sustainability staff certainly contributed to this delay)
  • An operational delivery group will be hosted in Corporate Communications and co-chaired by Tracy and Duncan, and this group will prioritise two or three sustainability related tasks to implement before the end of the academic year
  • The operational delivery group will consist of academic and professional services staff as well as students representatives
  • there will be a sustainability related contact in Corporate Communications, but it is envisioned that the bulk of the work will be enacted by other departments (?)
  • the operational group will feed back at steering group meetings and a initial performance will be evaluated at the end of the 17/18 academic year
  • A sustainability strategy will be developed to inform the University's work and to further embed a culture of sustainability throughout the institution. This is also meant to show that the University is prioritizing sustainability at the highest level.
  • the sustainability strategy is to be build around 5 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals - 1) Quality Education, 2) Affordable and Clean Energy 3) Sustainable Cities and Communities 4) Responsible Consumption and Production and 5) Climate Action.
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