News

  • Green Impact Launch and LEAF update!

    At Newcastle University, we recognise that the climate crisis must be addressed communally, and we cannot meet the sustainability targets set out in our Climate Action Plan without the efforts of all our colleagues and students. Green Impact and LEAF are two amazing programmes available for our colleagues at the university, with the opportunity for…

  • COP 29: Apply to be a Virtual Delegate! 

    The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the 29th Conference of the Parties, or COP 29, is set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan from the 11th – 22nd of November. Conference discussions are expected to centre on themes of climate finance, carbon markets and new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC’s) – the…

  • Sustainable Drainage Systems: The Future of Flood and Water Management

    Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are key to building sustainable cities and countering the influence of urbanisation. These eco-friendly solutions maintain habitats, support natural cycles, and protect human communities. Since 2023, it is now a legal requirement for all new major developments to include SuDS in their planning. Newcastle University has great research infrastructure in this…

  • Redeveloping sustainably: supporting the community at Castle Leazes

    As works progress on redeveloping the University’s vast Castle Leazes student accommodation, sustainability is being considered at every step. Examples of this work include plans for Biodiversity Net Gain on the site and the decision to deconstruct the halls rather than demolishing them to reuse and recycle as many of the buildings’ materials as possible.…

  • Combining energy and sustainability: upgrading Newcastle University’s Merz Court Energy Centre

    Heating and powering our campus is one of the University’s largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions and so work to improve the efficiency of these systems is very effective at reducing our institution’s impact on the environment. To this end, a major project the University is currently undertaking is the installation of a Combined Heat…

  • Celebrating World Environment Day at Newcastle Univeristy

    This Wednesday was World Environment Day – an initiative run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973 to recognise the beauty and importance of the natural world and to fight for its preservation and restoration. The programme is important for its ability to raise awareness and bring together solutions for a range of…

  • Sustainability Week: the highlights!

    Running Monday through Friday last week, Newcastle University Student’s Union (NUSU) collaborated with a wide variety of groups and individuals (including us the Sustainability Team!) to organise an action-packed week of sustainability events. Read on to learn more about the range of engaging and thought provoking sessions put on! Monday 19 February Second-hand MarketTo kick…

  • Green Impact: Grassroots sustainability at your university

    Green Impact is a UNESCO award-winning programme tailored towards promoting socially and environmentally sustainable practices across a wide range of organisations, including public sector bodies such as our university. The programme, run by SOS-UK, works with colleagues (organised into teams) to foster sustainable action in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we…

  • 2023: A year in sustainability

    2023 was a busy year for us in the Sustainability Team! We launched projects, ran events, helped the University to score highly in prestigious league tables, and welcomed new team members to continue and expand our work. Delivering a sustainable Newcastle University is complex and multi-faceted work and requires a great deal of coordination and…

  • Sustainability Highlights 22/23

    With the next academic year due to begin, it’s time to take a moment to reflect on the University’s sustainability activity. From buzzing eco-friendly events and collaborations to receiving exciting awards, this year has been packed with sustainable achievements.  We held some great events…  Climate Action at Newcastle University  On the 10th of November 2022,…

  • Placements with the Sustainability Team: Interviewing Annabel

    Annabel has been in the Sustainability Team for just under a year. She has had the job of Sustainability Communications Placement Graduate (such a short and snappy job title, I know!). She has been one of two placement colleagues in the team hired for 12 months, and managed to get a sustainability engagement job in…

  • Environment Awards 2023

    On the 29th of June the Sustainability Team joined staff, students and members from Newcastle University’s Executive Board in King’s Hall to celebrate achievements and displays of sustainable excellence.  Recipients of the award were from various departments across the university, including teaching, research and Estates and Facilities. We hope this demonstrates how sustainable changes and…

  • What are environmental and energy management systems?

    An Environmental Management System (EMS) assists businesses and organisations in improving their environmental performance and their operations that have an environmental impact. It is worth noting that an EMS can be implemented within any business or organisation, it is not dependant on the size or activity of the organisation/ business. An implemented EMS would be…

  • World Environment Day 2023

    World Environment Day is an annual event that takes place on the 5th of June, this day was implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to raise awareness of global environmental problems. Each year a different theme is selected, and this year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution Plastic pollution is a global crisis that stems from…

  • A Look Inside the SESC: How Newcastle University Students are Making a Difference

    The Student Environment & Sustainability Committee (SESC) is a student-led group which looks to improve sustainability at the University. The group aims to gather feedback and understand student priorities regarding sustainability. The SESC is chaired by the Ethics and Environment Rep and is attended by Environment & Sustainability (E&S) Reps from many academic schools. Any student can…

  • Rubbish Revelations

    Reduce, reuse, and recycle are three strategies that can help us protect the environment. The ‘Three R’s’ were first publicised in the 1970s around the same time the universal logo for recycling was created, but do you know what they really mean? The ‘Three Rs’ are actually listed in order of importance. Reduce Reduce is…

  • What are the Sustainable Development Goals and why are they important to Newcastle University?

    The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a group of 17 interlinked targets created by the United Nations which aim to create a better and more sustainable global future. They address  challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change. The goals recognise that in order to end poverty and other hardships, we must work towards improving health and…

  • International Day of Zero Waste

    The International Day of Zero Waste aims to promote zero-waste initiatives and approaches that will contribute toward the progression of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A move toward a zero-waste society is a necessary process due to overconsumption and excessive production across a large portion of the world. To reduce the amount of waste that…

  • What is the Energy Price Cap and what does it mean for you?

    The terms ‘Energy Price Cap’ and ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ appear almost daily on the news and social media. They seem very important but, unfortunately, these phrases are not well explained, and many people don’t understand what they are and what this means for them. This blog will help clarify these terms, allowing you to better…

  • The Newcastle Clean Air Zone: Your questions answered

    A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has now been introduced for parts of Newcastle in order to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Confused about what this means for you? This blog post will hopefully answer your questions.  What is the CAZ and when does it start?  The CAZ is an area within Newcastle…