Tag Archives: sustainable

Celebrating Spring: Top 5 Green Spaces on Campus

To celebrate the start of spring and the launch of our new Sustainable Campus Map, we’re highlighting the best green spaces on campus. Our interactive map showcases sustainability hotspots across Newcastle University, from research hubs and renewable energy centres to green roofs and sustainable food spots.

At Newcastle University, we are fortunate to have a city campus rich in green spaces – from flower patches to tree clusters, to our perfectly preserved lawns. Besides their environmental benefits, these spaces are proven to enhance well-being and health! Whether you’re enjoying a wellbeing walk, catching up with friends, or simply taking a peaceful moment to yourself, our green spaces offer a refreshing escape in the heart of the city.

Read on to discover our top five campus green spaces, captured in stunning springtime images.

1. Philip Robinson Library Grass

As you exit the Philip Robinson library and turn left, you’ll find a luscious patch of grass – a popular spot among students. When the weather gets warmer make sure to grab a library picnic blanket and soak up the rays. Conveniently located next to a wildflower patch, the Library Grass is a must-visit in warmer months!

2. The Old Quadrangle

Nestled between the Armstrong and Architecture Building, you’ll find a shaded sanctuary. The central location and dispersed benches make the Old Quad a great place to rest and decompress between lecture or meetings.

3. Claremont Lawn

The Claremont Lawn is adjacent to Claremont Road, Merz Court and the Old Library Building. From towering trees to blooming daffodils, the recent sunshine has certainly brought the landscape to life. This tranquil space is the ideal spot for an afternoon book read or meditation session.

4. Drummond Quad

Between Kensington Terrace Accommodation and the Drummond Building lies an oasis of trees, bushes and flower patches, also known as the Drummond Quad. At 1900 metres squared, Drummond Quad is the largest green space on campus! Designated birdboxes attract magpies and blackbirds, and further exploration will lead you to the pond and hidden hedgehog house. Around the pond you are sure to find snowdrops, tulips and daffodils.

5. Bonus Green Spaces

Apart from beautiful lawns, we are also proud of our campus green roofs, found on both buildings and bin stores. While these may not be available for picnics, they are a great example of how increased biodiversity can be incorporated on city campuses.

Some benefits of green roofs include:

Intercepting water and preventing flooding
Capturing carbon and improving air quality
Supporting wildlife
Preventing roofs from over-heating

Currently three campus bin stores have grassy roofs, and the Urban Sciences Building has a spacious green roof over the Atrium.

A big thank you to the Grounds Team, who work their hardest to keep our campus vibrant all year round. Check out our brand-new Sustainability Campus Map for a better idea of where green spaces are on campus. See the Biodiversity page to find out more about what we are doing at Sustainable Campus to protect nature. If you have any queries about green spaces or sustainability in general, do not hesitate to email us at sustainable-campus@ncl.ac.uk

Reflecting on the Women in Sustainability Careers Exploration Workshop

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Last week, on Monday the 10^th of March, the inaugural Women in Sustainability Careers Exploration Workshop took place, in partnership with the official Women in Sustainability Network. Over 35 students were able to reflect, learn and be inspired to explore careers in sustainability-related roles, coached by experts in the field.

At Newcastle University, we support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – seeking peace and prosperity for all people and the planet now and in the future. The UN SDG group recognise that without the full participation and leadership of women and girls, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals will be an impossible task (UNSDG website, 2025).

“Women and girls deserve a seat at every table, a voice in every decision, and an equal chance to shape what lies ahead.”
– Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group

Read on to explore the valuable advice shared by our panellists and to learn about the students’ thoughts and reflections on the event.

The Event

The event was opened by Charlotte and Cristina – two placement students from the Sustainability Team, before handing over to Jenny Davidson. Jenny is a Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University having previously been a Senior Lecturer in the Business School, Climate Change Fellow in School X and Chair of the University’s Sustainability Committee. Jenny chaired the panel session with four inspiring sustainability experts from a variety of fields.

The Panel:

The panellists discussed their passions, career backgrounds, and current topics they deemed most relevant in their roles. Here are some key takeaways from the panel session:

There is not one route into sustainability, and each of our experts studied a variety of subjects at university including languages, geology and environmental management. Working towards a more sustainable world is a group task, and people from all work fields need to get involved. Each panellist had a different interest within sustainability, from teaching and research to consulting.
Experience and perseverance are key! Hannah from AECOM shared that after graduating she had a variety of jobs before landing her graduate sustainability consultant job. Sometimes it’s easy to compare yourself to others, but everyone’s journey is different!
You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do at the start of your career. You can find your passions as you gain more experience in the field and find your speciality.

After the panel session, our experts each joined a breakout table of students, where conversation menus guided the discussions. This format created a relaxed and safe space for students to ask questions, share ideas and reflect on their own aspirations and attributes.

Hannah, a Sustainability Consultant at AECOM, shared valuable advice with the students: “Utilise all the additional (most of the time – free!) services that the university provides to you throughout your studies e.g. dissertation/essay writing services, and these often offer the opportunity for you to work on your thesis with an extra professional who may be a specialist in academic writing – I found this really useful when completing my master’s dissertation”.

Reflecting on the event, Meryl Batchelder, TeachSDGs Ambassador and United Nations-accredited Climate Change Teacher, said, ““It really was a fantastic gathering of young students. I loved talking with them about their hopes (and fears) for the future alongside sharing my lived experience.”

The students were also given a handy “earnings and action plan” sheet where they could record learnings, and tick off actions, such as ‘make one new LinkedIn connection’. The back of the sheet listed a variety of helpful websites and networks to search after the workshop.

The feedback from students has been glowing, highlighting the value of bringing experts from industry into students’ learning.

“I learnt much more than I anticipated. I learnt about so many different backgrounds and different career opportunities. It was amazing to hear such strong, smart women describing their experiences and careers and how they utilised their own failures and got where they are today. I came away feeling brave and strong being a female scientist.”

“I really enjoyed the whole event, and the environment was really friendly and open to discussion. [I learnt] there is no set route into the sustainability industry, but it is important to show your enthusiasm for the subject and follow a career that you feel rewarded in.”

“There’s no right or wrong route to working in sustainability. Say yes to as many opportunities as possible and don’t be afraid to stick to your principles.”

Thank you to Meryl Batchelder, Olivia Partington, Hannah Shepherd and Hayley Fowler for inspiring and talking to our students. A big thank you to Toby Price for putting the event together, and Jenny Davidson for chairing.

References

Unsdg | A World for All Women and Girls

Celebrating World Water Day 2025: Saving Every Drop

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World Water Day is a United Nations Observance held on the 22^nd of March every year, aiming to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater. Water is a crucial resource that is central to natural ecosystems, agriculture, sanitation, industry, heating, transport, and, of course, keeping us hydrated!

Less than 1% of the world’s water is available for human use, sourced from rivers, lakes, groundwater and even rainwater (Murcott, 2022). A recent study warns that the UK is increasingly vulnerable to water insecurity in the future, due to its limited renewable water sources, high consumption and leakage rates, and its insufficient funding for water management (Loveday, 2024). While water scarcity may seem like a distant concern, it’s crucial to understand how we can reduce our usage and take action now.

To mark World Water Day 2025, this blog will explore how we in the Sustainability Team ensure that the University’s water system is efficient, safe, and abides by all environmental regulations, plus we’ll add in some tips of how you can save water at home too!

Image: Drone shot of the Tyne River, with the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and Tyne Bridge in the background. Source: Elemental Photography.

The University’s water

The University’s water is managed in accordance with our Environmental Management System and we have Operational Control Procedures in place that control significant environmental aspects such as water reduction and trade effluence. These are audited internally and externally annually. To further support our water management, we work with building users, technicians, and our external monitoring partners Demeter to ensure that water is being used responsibly and any leaks are identified and repaired efficiently. Some examples of recent leaks that were rapidly detected and promptly repaired include a broken fitting on a main pipe at our Bowsden Court student accommodation, a burst pipe in the Henry Daysh basement and a flood inside Herschel Building over the Christmas shutdown period.

In addition to this work to quickly remedy faults in the system, we’re being proactive in saving water across our facilities in a number of ways, including:

Installing Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) software across the University. This system is capable of logging water consumption data every 15 minutes, allowing us to assess and monitor the University’s water usage data accurately.
Developing a water strategy. Our strategy will help us to holistically review our water monitoring and management processes.
Identifying any issues with fixtures and fittings in our buildings. We ask staff and students to report problems such as broken taps and toilets when they find them so they can be fixed quickly. We also use the AMR data to help us with this as the frequent data logging enables us to identify trends and any anomalies where problems may be occurring.
Installing push taps to reduce water consumption.
Including water systems in our Sustainable Construction Framework. New systems designed for capital projects have specific sustainability requirements to meet, including specification around water systems.
Monitoring our water consumption daily with specialist support. Our partners Demeter send us information every day about building water consumption to help us stop leaks and identify areas where usage is higher than it should be.

Image: Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Source: UN SDGs.

How can I save water at home?

There are plenty of easy ways you can save water around the house and these actions will help lower your water bill as a bonus!

Use a shower timer to help reduce water use in the shower – timers are typically set to four minutes.
Only use a dishwasher on a full load and avoid pre-rinse settings.
Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need, saving energy as well as water.
Use any leftover cooking water on houseplants.
When purchasing a new toilet, look for a dual flush option.
Fit tap aerators onto your taps and look into aerated shower heads to easily reduce water consumption.

Is there anything I can do on campus?

You can report any water defect, whether it’s a dripping tap, overfilling toilet, leaking pipe or water which is too hot. Simply fill out this Planon form and select the “auto log-in” option or sign in with your University details. The form should be filled-in with as much detail as possible.

Always make sure taps, hoses, and cooling systems are turned off after use. Additionally, if you manage or work in labs you can reduce water use by:

Using recirculating cooling systems to save energy and water and reducing the water supply to water-cooled equipment to the minimum required.
Avoiding using water vacuum pumps where possible as they use large quantities of water.
Specifying what levels of water purity are necessary for various applications and not using distilled water when it is not necessary.
Only running washers when they are full and ensuring the lab has correctly sized equipment for its common usage to prevent inefficient washing of oversized items.
Joining the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF)!

Thank you so much for reading this blog. If you want to explore more information on water at our university, take a look at our dedicated webpage, or email us at sustainable-campus@ncl.ac.uk

Reference list:

Loveday, K. (2024) UK faces a high level of water security challenge, BSI Reports, The UK Water Report. Available at: https://www.thewaterreport.co.uk/single-post/uk-faces-a-high-level-of-water-security-challenge-bsi-reports (Accessed: 12 March 2025).

Murcott, S. (2022) Freshwater and climate change, MIT Climate Portal. Available at: https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/freshwater-and-climate-change (Accessed: 12 March 2025).

Disposing of Disposable Vapes: Environmental Impact and Responsible Solutions

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A disposable vape is a pre-filled, electronic cigarette designed for one-time use. They have become a convenient alternative to cigarettes in recent years due to their affordability and availability. It is now predicted that over 360 million disposable vapes are thrown away in the UK every year, but only 17% of users recycle them in the correct recycling bins (Material Focus, 2023). This blog will explore the environmental dangers posed by these devices, while providing guidance on how to correctly dispose of them.

Image: Disposable vapes are often encased in colourful plastics, contributing to their detrimental impact on the environment (Source: Waste Managed, 2024).

Why are disposable vapes an environmental problem?

From the 1^st of June 2025, the sale of disposable vapes will be banned in the UK to protect children’s health as they have become increasingly popular among young people. But why are these devices so bad for the environment? Let’s explore the key reasons…

They’re made of plastic

Disposable vapes contribute significantly to the growing problem of plastic waste. Vapes left on the street are likely to break down into microplastics that flow into drains and pollute water systems (Truth Initiative, 2021). They’re also very difficult to recycle as they are made of many different parts including batteries and circuit boards, as well as plastic – components that must be separated. Moreover, plastic takes hundreds of years to breakdown, meaning that your vape will most likely outlive you!

They contain harmful chemicals

Vapes are made of plastic casing, lithium batteries, copper wire and other components. Separating these materials during the recycling process is both labour-intensive and expensive. Additionally, the toxic compounds in vapes, are also prone to leach into soil and water systems, contaminating animal habitats.

Both lithium and copper are finite resources. They are necessary for infrastructure, electric vehicle batteries and charging stations (Sky News, 2024). Using these elements in vape production wastes valuable materials that are essential for advancing green technologies.

They can cause battery-related fires

When vapes are crushed, their lithium can overheat and ignite fires. The London Fire Brigade has responded to more than 200 fires caused by lithium batteries in the last two years (BBC News, 2024). If disposable vapes are disposed of in the general waste bin, they are more prone to being crushed and compressed, and therefore more likely to cause fires on waste vehicles and in waste facilities, potentially endangering waste workers and causing unnecessary damage.

How to dispose of vapes responsibly?

Up to 80% of a disposable vape can be recycled, and there are two main ways you can dispose of your vapes responsibly: organising a collection, or taking your vape to an electronics recycling station.

See below for some key recycling points in Newcastle. As shown, most Tesco Express stores have electronic recycling points. Many points are also near the University campus, making it extra convenient for disposal!

Image: Some key locations around Newcastle that contain bins for electronic devices, e.g. vapes.

A second option for disposal is arranging a Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collection to your house. These are free for all Newcastle City Council residents who have their own front door access on the ground floor. Simply book a day online, and leave your vape(s) on your doorstep inside a plastic bag the night before. Your items will be collected and disposed of safely.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, while purchasing a disposable vape may seem convenient, its disposal is far from simple. As their banning date becomes imminent, it is essential to ensure that any remaining devices are disposed of responsibly. An item that may only last you a week, could be harming the planet for decades!

For more information on recycling items on campus, check out our Waste A-Z. If you would like to search for your nearest electronic recycling point, use the handy Recycle Your Electricals search engine. To book a WEEE collection, visit the Newcastle City Council booking page.

Reference List:

BBC News. (2024). The environmental impact of disposable vapes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy943vpr7vgo

Material Focus. (2023.). Disposable single-use vapes thrown away have quadrupled to 5 million per week. https://www.materialfocus.org.uk/press-releases/disposable-single-use-vapes-thrown-away-have-quadrupled-to-5-million-per-week/#:~:text=Material%20Focus%20has%20found%20that%20UK%20adults%20report,could%20instead%20be%20powering%20nearly%205%2C000%20electric%20vehicles

Sky News. (2023). Why are disposable vapes bad for the environment? https://news.sky.com/story/why-are-disposable-vapes-bad-for-the-environment-13059299

Truth Initiative. (2021). The toxic plastic problem: E-cigarette waste and the environment. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/harmful-effects-tobacco/toxic-plastic-problem-e-cigarette-waste-and-environment

Waste Managed. (2024). How to dispose of vapes: Are they recyclable? https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/our-news/recycling/how-to-dispose-of-vapes-are-they-recyclable/

3 Ways to Upcycle and Update your Wardrobe this November

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This month, it is Nothing New November. Nothing New November is a campaign founded by Keep Britain Tidy to combat the issue of impulse buying, especially during Black Friday. The challenge encourages people to buy nothing new for a month, excluding essentials like food and medication. So, sign-up to the challenge, give it a go, and reduce your carbon footprint!

Fast fashion is arguably the most common impulse buy. Fashion production is detrimental to the environment, being responsible for 10% of total global carbon emissions (Business Insider, 2019.) We live in a world where trends last for less than a month, forcing us to constantly change our wardrobe. In this blog, I will be sharing 3 different ways you can update your existing wardrobe using household items and thereby reducing your impact on the earth!

Attach a patch

Patches are the perfect way to fix a hole in your favourite jeans or to decorate a plain top you haven’t worn in a while. A current trend I’ve been seeing a lot recently is star patches on clothes. Instead of buying into this microtrend, I will try to DIY my own version…

Firstly, find a piece of scrap fabric in your house- this could be from an old bag, tablecloth, or jeans.

I’m going to trace my patch design onto a piece of paper and cut it out.

Place the patch template onto your fabric, pin it in place and cut around it.

Pin the patch into place over the hole you want to fix or the area you want to embellish.

Finally, using a simple running stitch or more advanced blanket stitch, secure your patch into place.

Quick and eco-friendly!

Fun with fur

With winter on the rise, faux fur is becoming a staple in people’s wardrobes. Instead of buying new, you can upcycle an old coat with scrap fur. If you can’t find any fur at home, I recommend looking for any offcuts or old pillows in charity shops- remember it’s Nothing New November, so buying second hand is encouraged!

I’m choosing to embellish my old leather jacket. Try find an item you haven’t won in a while or an item you find plain. Next, decide what aspects you are going to add fur onto, e.g. the collar, the pockets, the cuffs, etc…

You’re then going to trace a rough outline of these components onto a scrap piece of paper – it’s always better to overestimate outlines.

Cut the templates out and pin them to your fur.

Just like the patch, cut around the paper outlines into your fur and pin the fur sections to their corresponding sections on your jacket.

To keep the fur in place, use a whip stitch, or running stitch, securing the fur to the edges of your collar or cuff. Fur is a very forgiving fabric, so don’t worry too much about being neat!

This tip is both trendy and cozy!

Embroider and embellish

Embroidery is a quick and easy way to add a motif or design to any plain pieces of clothing. To add an extra touch, you could include leftover beads or buttons to your design.

It’s always helpful to sketch your design first, choosing what colours and what type of stitch your design will use. I’ve seen this cherry design all over my Pinterest feed!

Next, do a rough outline of your design onto the clothing fabric. This outline will be covered by stitching later, so don’t worry about leaving marks.

For this DIY, find your thickest thread, or double your thread up before putting into the needle.

Use small stitches to fill up your design.

If you want to challenge yourself, experiment with French knots, chain stitches or cross stitches to decorate your design.

What a cute look!

The best thing about these three projects, is that they can easily be reversed. If you decide you’re no longer keen on a star patch, simply unpick the stitches and change it out. The same goes for the fur or the embroidery. By constantly customising the pieces in your wardrobe, you can keep up with trends, save your money, and reduce your environmental impact.

For more tips on eco-friendly fashion, see our sustainable fashion tips blog here. To find out more about what we do at Sustainable Campus, click here.

Thanks for reading!

References:

McFall-Johnsen, M. (2019) The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet., Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10 (Accessed: 07 November 2024).

Reuse, Refill, Recycle

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Could you buy nothing new for just one month?

Nothing New November is a UK wide challenge that calls the public to fight overconsumption and impulse purchases by buying nothing new for one month (excluding essentials like food etc). The aim is to waste less, make the most of the stuff we already own, and cut our carbon footprint (Keep Britain Tidy, 2024).

As part of Nothing New November, we have been thinking of ways to shop for essentials in a more planet friendly way! So, this month I have been exploring the independent, sustainable shops in and around Newcastle. I hope this blog will encourage others to pay these amazing little shops a visit, and we can all try to be a bit more mindful about the things we buy, and the waste we create.

How to use a re-fill shop?

Using a re-fill shop can seem a bit daunting if you haven’t done it before, so I’ve put together some tips to help first time shoppers:

Collect some empty containers, glass jars work well. Often the re-fill shops have some you can buy too so don’t worry if you don’t have any.
Take a list of items you’d like to buy with rough measurements of how much you need, and head to the re-fill shop with your clean, empty containers.
When you arrive, speak to the staff! They are always so helpful and explain the process to you. But normally they weigh your empty jars before you fill them up.
Then just fill up your jars with whatever you please and the containers will be weighed again, and price totalled up at the till like any other shop.
Enjoy all your plastic free goodies!

Re-fill shops around Newcastle

109 General Store, Heaton

109 General Store is a family run low-waste general store located on Heaton Park Road. They have a variety of green cleaning products, sweet treats, fruit, veg, local eggs and fresh bread from Northern Rye. The in-store staff are friendly and are happy to help customers, or you can order food online for click and collect. I often do my weekly shop here then pop next door to their sister shop Heaton Perk for a coffee, Newcastle’s only coffee shop exclusively using glass bottled dairy milk.

2. Ernie, Stepney Road, Ouseburn

Ernie is a small deli shop located in Ouseburn which sells organic veg, household refills, and unique local cooking items and gifts from sustainable and small businesses. You can order locally sourced fresh produce to your door using Ernie’s fresh delivery service, delivered on Fridays by bicycle!

‘Real people, real food, less is more, buy less, buy better – making a difference is always within reach.’
(Ernie Ouseburn, 2024)

3. Buy the Kilo, Tynemouth

Buy the kilo is another family-run refill shop located on platform one of Tynemouth metro station. After a walk on the beach, I stopped off to check out this shop and pick up some oat milk. The shop is hidden down a little alley of independent businesses in shipping containers, which if you’re not looking for you probably would never notice! It was my first time visiting the shop, and the ladies working in the shop were more than happy to help and walked me through exactly how to work the weighing system. The shop also exhibits artists’ work that highlights issues about the environment, making it a must visit if you’re in Tynemouth!

Thank you for reading this blog, I hope you enjoyed it! A big thank you to the owners of these shops for all their efforts in reducing waste. Let us know in the comments if you visit any!

The 2024 Christmas Switch Off at Newcastle University

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What is the Christmas Switch Off?

The Christmas Switch Off is a University-wide campaign where we encourage staff and students to turn off any electrical items that can be switched off instead of leaving them on standby over the Christmas break.

Why is the Christmas Switch Off important?

By turning off everything that can be turned off, we will reduce our energy consumption across the campus. The Christmas Switch Off campaign has been run for a number of years to minimise energy wastage and contribute to our carbon reduction targets.

We also hope that promoting of the Christmas Switch Off will promote positive behaviour change more widely and remind colleagues and students to minimise their energy wastage by remembering to switch off what they can every day.

Who participates in the Switch Off?

We would like everyone at the university to participate if they are able to, that includes staff and students across labs, offices, and accommodation. The advice on what to turn off will vary for each location – guidance on what should be switched off is in this blog post.

When switching off your work area, it can be helpful to organise a switch off team that can check each area after most people have left for the term to ensure everything that can be switched off, has been.

Here are some examples of items that could be switched in various area across campus:

Staff working in offices: Lighting, computers, monitors, printers and photocopiers, kettles and fridges (after they have been emptied and cleaned). Also, it is important to make sure that all windows have been properly closed.
Labs and medical buildings: All the above can be applied in addition to drying cupboards, fume cupboards and fridges/freezers that will not be in use over the break (please do not turn off equipment that is in use).

Many students leave their accommodation over the Christmas break, meaning their accommodation will be empty over the holidays. If you are going away over the winter break, there are a few things that you could do before you leave:

Clean out and defrost your fridges and freezers the day before you leave by turning them off at the wall and popping a towel underneath to soak up the melted ice.
Turn off your kettles and toasters at the wall.
If there is a wall switch for your oven this is also a good thing to turn off easily, as well as lights and plug sockets.

For more switch off information, visit the Sustainable Campus website: https://bit.ly/3OP5yLN

If you have any questions or ideas about the Christmas Switch Off, please email the Sustainability Team at sustainable-campus@ncl.ac.uk

Thank you for reading!

Green Impact Launch and LEAF update!

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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 participants to win bronze, silver, and gold awards for sustainability. Earlier this month, the Environment Awards recognised and celebrated the achievements of our colleagues and students over the past year, with 11 teams receiving Green Impact awards and 10 teams receiving LEAF awards. A massive congratulations to those teams!

So, read on to find out how you can get involved in the next programme of Green Impact or LEAF, and play your part in increasing environmental sustainability on campus!

Green Impact

Green Impact is a United Nations award-winning programme which promotes environmentally and socially sustainable behaviour across organisations. At Newcastle University, colleagues can sign up to Green Impact and create teams within their work area, with actions assigned to complete in the online toolkit. The toolkit is aligned with the UN Sustainability Goals, with themes such as energy, water, waste, travel, biodiversity, communication, and wellbeing.

This is a great opportunity to improve your knowledge on environmental issues and contribute to meaningful sustainable change in your workplace, whilst collecting some awards to display!

How to get involved:

Sign up to Green Impact online from the 11^th of November.
Chat to your colleagues in your work area about Green Impact teams and either join one that’s already been created or create a new team.
Email sustainable-campus@newcastle.ac.uk to join the Green Impact Teams channel, and chat to other teams!
Work through your assigned actions. Each action grants a certain number of points which then add up to the bronze, silver, and gold awards.
Our friendly student auditors will come round to check your progress later in the year.
The Environmental Awards will be held in June, with engraved recycled slates for teams that made it to Bronze, Silver, or Gold.

LEAF

Our laboratories are essential in enabling the groundbreaking research conducted at Newcastle University, and scientific research is vital in mitigating the climate crisis. However, traditional laboratory practices can come with unintended environmental impact (Freese et al, 2024).

LEAF, or the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework, is an online platform for laboratory users designed by UCL to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories. Similar to Green Impact, lab teams work through sustainability actions to reduce waste, water, and energy along with improving the efficiency of other resources. There is an upcoming refresh of the LEAF actions and criteria, so sign up now to be a part of this updated programme.

Image: Diversity of Life Lab Session (Biology & Zoology). Photo Credit: Chris Bishop.

How to get involved?

Sign up on the LEAF login portal
Register with your institutional email, then login and either join an existing lab, or request a new lab (if your lab is not already listed).
After your account is verified, work with your team through the bronze, silver, and gold criteria. Members of the Sustainability Team will assess your progress along the way, and certificates will be awarded at the Environmental Awards!
Every year, progress to a higher certificate, or re-audit to keep your accreditation.

Key dates:

Relaunch of Green Impact on Monday the 11^thof November
Criteria Update of LEAF on Monday the 11^th of November.
Green Impact Launch Webinar on Thursday the 14^th of November, Sign up here.
LEAF teams channels launch on Friday the 1^st of November.
Celebrating Success Environmental Awards: June (date to be announced later).

Thank you for reading, and we look forward to welcoming some new teams to Green Impact and LEAF this year!

References

Freese, T., Elzinga, N., Heinemann, M., Lerch, M.M. and Feringa, B.L., 2024. The relevance of sustainable laboratory practices. Rsc Sustainability, 2(5), pp.1300-1336.

COP 29: Apply to be a Virtual Delegate!

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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 11^t^h – 22^nd of November. Conference discussions are expected to centre on themes of climate finance, carbon markets and new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC’s) – the national targets to support climate change commitments that countries must submit in 2025.

This year, we have the opportunity for 10 University representatives to attend the conference virtually. Keep on reading to find out more about being a virtual delegate, and how you can apply!

Image: The venue for this year’s conference- Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan. Credit: AZTV.

What is an observer?

Newcastle University gained “observer organisation” status with the UNFCCC in 2021 and a delegation of academics, professional services colleagues and student representatives were able to attend COP 26 in Glasgow as a result. Observer organisations can select representatives to attend the annual COP’s both in-person and virtually. This year, for COP 29, all observer organisations have been allocated 10 virtual delegate places – though in-person quotas have been limited.

Observers are chosen from a variety of groups, all expressing unique perspectives on climate change. They fall into one of three groups: United Nations organisations, intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

NGOs can include:

Youth groups

Trade unions

Farmers

Indigenous communities

Environmental charities

Research organisations including universities.

Gender-equality initiatives

Virtual delegates can access many meetings and events being held at the COP 29 conference, though often this is limited to being able to observe proceedings via a one-way live stream. As well as the main negotiations between Parties to the Convention, COP conferences host hundreds of related side-events, exhibits and meetings every year. Observer organisations can apply to host side-events at the conference and many of this year’s events should be available to view by virtual delegates. Some events may even interact with the online community, allowing you to network with peers and have your say!

More information about observer organisations is available here on the UNFCCC website, and a list of this year’s formal side-events is available here. The list will most likely be updated as the conference nears, so keep checking for new events!

Image: This year’s timetable of themes. Keep this safe when deciding which talks to attend! Credit: UNFCCC.

How can I apply?

This year, we are encouraging both students and colleagues to apply to be a virtual delegate. We will select delegates on a first come, first serve basis. We will also try to ensure a balance of undergraduate students, postgraduate taught students, postgraduate research students, academic colleagues, and colleagues from professional services.

To apply, simply fill out the form below telling us your availability and why you would like to attend. Please note, it is not expected that virtual delegates will commit the whole of their time to the COP – we would encourage our virtual delegates to attend as many events as their commitments will allow.

By filling out the form, you will also consent to helping the Sustainability Team with a follow-up blog or knowledge-sharing activity, describing your experience at COP 29. You will also agree to abide by the UNFCCC Code of Conduct found here.

COP 29 Virtual Delegate Application: https://forms.office.com/e/N0ZgHLwmgY

Good luck!

Nature Positive Student Ambassador Programme

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Nature Positive is a term that refers to the reversing of nature loss and encourages ecosystem recovery. The Nature Positive Universities network is comprised of over 500 higher educational institutions worldwide who have all committed to protecting biodiversity by signing the Nature Positive Pledge. The network was jointly founded by the University of Oxford and the UN Environment Programme in December 2022. If you’re interested in finding out more about Nature Positive and how as a student you can get involved, keep reading!

Image: The aim of the Nature Positive Universities group; reversing the biodiversity loss curve. Credit: Nature Positive Universities.

What is the student ambassador programme?

If you are a student and interested in the Nature Positive ethos, check out the Student Ambassador Programme. Every year, Nature Positive Universities welcome students to apply for this program, giving them the opportunity to play a part in #GenerationRestoration while collaborating with students from other universities on a global scale.

The programme is an exciting blend of practical and collaborative activities, with no two days being the same!

Some benefits you will gain upon joining the programme:

Experience volunteering with mentors at University of Oxford

A chance to make a difference on our campus

Networking with a global community of environmental activists

Resources and training to help you organise events and activities

A certificate documenting your role

A chance to exercise your personal skills such as social media, communications, design, organising events, translation and biological identification and survey techniques

Image: Nature Positive student ambassadors volunteering in a field. Credit: Nature Positive Universities.

How can I apply?

Applying for the programme only takes 10 minutes and could seriously boost your CV, if you are interested in working within the environmental or urban planning sector.

Sign-ups for the 2024/2025 Nature Positive Student Ambassador Programme are currently open and the deadline to apply is the 10th November 2024.

Link to apply: https://www.naturepositiveuniversities.net/become-an-ambassador/

To find out more on what the sustainable campus team are doing to fulfil the Nature Positive Pledge, check out our blog post on Biodiversity Net Gain, or visit the Biodiversity page on our website!