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January 2023

Hi,

Welcome back to all staff and students from the winter break.

2023 could be one of the hottest years on Earth. The next 12 months will be crucial in tackling the climate crisis at a personal, institutional and governmental level. This month we highlight some of UoN's achievements in 2022 and priorities for 2023. Plus - as ever - there are ways for you to get involved, from Sustainability Action Week to birdwatching.

So let’s get going!

Sustainability Action Week is back 13 - 19 March 2023. Read on for more info...

Things you can do and upcoming events

Make a sustainable resolution

Don't know where to start being sustainable?
Join Green Rewards, calculate your carbon footprint and then pledge your resolution. And get Green Points for all those actions!

Join Green Reawards

57,819

Total 2022 actions completed

76,907

Kg CO2 saved in 2022

Big Garden Birdwatch

Connect with nature and contribute to citizen science by counting the birds on 27-29 January with the RSPB.

Sign up

Dr Bike

Slots are available for Dr Bike January and February. In January we're running a limited service as we return from the winter break.

Book a slot

'Adapting our cities to climate change: a blue-green vision'

Hosted by the School of Geography, Dr Emily O'Donnell presents adapting to climate change

Book a place

2022 sustainability highlights

Pack for Good

Students of UoN and NTU supported the Pack for Good campaign, raising money for the British Heart Foundation. 2022 was a good year for UoN with on-campus students alone raising £31,514 and saving 18 tonnes of waste from landfill with 2,251 bags of clothes donated. UoN's support also helped BHF to open a new Nottingham shop.

Energy reduction
Thanks to our combined efforts, we reduced gas use and achieved our 2022 CO2 target. New infrastructure projects are improving energy efficiencies and saving 1,000,000 kWh of energy. Thermal upgrades and new air source heat pump at DRSV swimming pool, saving 300 tonnes of CO2. We saved substantial energy over the Christmas break and we'll continue to build on this in 2023.

Carbon offsetting in sport
We've committed to become a Nature Positive University and increase campus biodiversity. In December, UoN Sport and the Sustainability Team planted over 800 trees at Riverside to offset travel from the Big BUCS Wednesday event.

In December UoN moved to digital graduation brochures to reduce resources, waste and carbon.

Find out more about sustainability at the university

Food made good

The food industry's environmental impact is vast. This is also true at UoN where food accounts for 10% of our indirect CO2 emissions. You can help reduce this by:

Choosing low-carbon meals with the help of Kilmato carbon labelling in halls and certain outlets.
Reducing food waste and saving money by using Too Good To Go.

2023 begins with the university achieving a Food Made Good Sustainability Rating for our catered halls on University Park and at Jubilee Atrium. This assess sourcing, society and environment within our catering offer.

We hope that due to the great success of receiving one star for our catered halls, we can roll out the assessment across other areas of catering, hospitality and conferencing.

Reasons to try Veganuary

Veganuary is here again and Ashwin Clayden from the UoN Vegetarian and Vegan Society explains how animal welfare and environmental issues are two major reasons you should try going vegan this year.

Read the blog

If globally, everyone ate just 20% less beef, deforestation could halve by 2050.
Make a change, make a difference.

Upcoming in 2023

Biodiversity

As we develop plans to meet global efforts to restore 30% of land for nature by 2030, we'll establish a Biodiversity Working Group and update our Landscape Management Plans. This will put biodiversity at the fore and protect, enhance and improve our beautiful campuses for nature's benefit and our own.

Carbon emissions

Informed by staff and student travel surveys, new travel strategies and recommendations will help make our commutes and business travel more sustainable. Our pioneering work in creating sustainable labs will continue, with plenty of ways to get involved.

Engagement
After piloting sustainability staff inductions and a Climate Fresk workshop for students, we're aiming to increase sustainability education and training. This will help everyone to join us on our zero-carbon journey. We also have lots of campaigns and activities coming up, such as:

go! Switch Off Halls Competition starts again 1 February
Fairtrade Fortnight 27 February - 12 March

Sustainability Action Week

Sustainability Action Week is back in 2023 from 13 - 17 March. Engage with and learn about sustainability whilst making a positive change. This year we're focussing on sustainable careers and the UN SDG's in teaching. If you want to host an activity or support one of ours, contact us.

Sustainability Careers Fair
Wednesday 15 March 2023, 11.30am-2pm, Jubilee Campus
Organisations will show how they're working towards the UN SDGs and showcase graduate jobs in sustainability. If you have links to companies working towards sustainability who might be interested, get in touch.

Sustainable Development Goals Teach in with SOS
Educators are encouraged to include SDG's within teaching and learning during March, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of sustainable development across all subjects.

Hi,