November 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference on improving the sustainability of UK universities, their estates and operations - and their wider contribution towards meeting net-zero 2050.
The discussion takes place against the backdrop of the Government’s policy drive to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 - and significant initiatives within the sector itself.
Delegates will examine priorities, next steps and best practice for universities - including how challenges are being met and strategies for addressing unresolved issues - and the way forward for maximising the sector’s contribution to UK leadership in climate change research and innovation.
The discussion at a glance:
- strategies and targets for leaders in UK higher and further education - and collaboration between HEI departments and with other sectors
- designing and delivering sustainable campuses - including adoption of environmentally sustainable investment, procurement and operations
- course content and R&D - climate change in the HE curriculum and research programmes
- the role of major funders in supporting transformation
- exchange of knowledge between HEIs and government
We also expect discussion on the challenges that COVID-19 presents for progress on sustainability in higher education - in the short term as the sector focuses on keeping staff and students safe, and adapting the operational and financial impacts of the pandemic - and into the future as universities manage costs and priorities.
Relevant developments:
- The Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Leaders - backed by the AoC, EAUC, GuildHE and UUK - formulating its strategic framework for the sector and sets targets for higher education’s contribution to meeting net-zero targets
- the Research and Development Roadmap - published by BEIS, including supporting innovation in meeting net zero carbon emissions
- The UK's Industrial Strategy - highlighting the role that universities can play in driving the innovation needed for clean growth and tackling climate change
- UK Climate Resilience Programme - Living with Climate Uncertainty - launched by UKRI and the Met Office offering funding for multi- and inter-disciplinary climate risk and adaption research
- the UKRI Environmental Sustainability Strategy - aiming for net zero emissions resulting from the research it is involved in and its other operations by 2040
- The Office for Students won’t be silent on sustainability - the OfS chair’s blog on the role of the Office along with universities and colleges on climate change
The agenda:
- Key findings of the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Leaders
- The direction of climate policy in the UK and the role of higher education institutions
- Embedding climate change into the HE curriculum, promoting climate research, and facilitating collaboration between departments and with other sectors
- Divestment from fossil fuels and adopting environmentally sustainable procurement and investment
- Designing and delivering sustainable campuses - existing estates, new developments, and creating a whole university approach
- Supporting transformation of the research system to deliver net-zero - Funder’s Perspective
The discussion in more detail:
- sustainable campuses and procedures:
- increasing the sustainability of estates - including the cutting of Scope 1 emissions outlined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, reducing the whole-life carbon impact of estates
- design of campus buildings - latest thinking and developments
- Adapting universities and colleges to a changing climate - Making the case and taking action - the development by universities of climate change adaptation plans (CCAPs)
- indirect emissions - how institutions can respond to growing calls to reduce Scope 3 emissions - those produced by suppliers and partners - following the Green Finance Strategy
- procurement practices - priorities for ensuring their contribution to environmental sustainability goals and the development of more environmentally sustainable supply chains
- divestment from fossil fuels - examining best practice, with NUS data indicating the over 50% of UK Universities have committed to move from fossil fuels in the near future
- social distancing - the impact on the environmental sustainability of estates of implementing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- collaboration and partnerships:
- university departments - approaches to effective collaboration and addressing any barriers so as to support greater levels of interdisciplinary research in climate-related fields
- funders and HEIs - to ensure that net zero targets and environmental sustainability are embedded in research
- HEIs and industry - to maximise their utilisation of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
- the OfS and universities - as well as the future role of the OfS in collecting data on emissions and the impact on HEIs, and student attitudes and expectations
- the impact of COVID-19:
- collaboration in the study of emissions
- international research in the face of reduced mobility of researchers
- development of open data and data sharing repositories in light of the increased demand brought about by work to combat coronavirus
- sustainability in the curriculum:
- course content - how teaching on environmental sustainability can be embedded in subject curricula across all university courses
- preparing students for progression - strategies for ensuring that students leave university with an effective understanding of climate change, and the transferable skills to adjust to the requirements of new jobs and ways of working that are likely to emanate from the transition to net zero
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from BEIS; Defra; the Cabinet Office; the Government Office for Science; the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, NI; the Department for International Trade; HM Revenue & Customs; the National Audit Office and the Welsh Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
