Survey results: 95% of University of Edinburgh students are interested in climate change
In our latest survey of University students and staff, we found high levels of interest in climate change, sustainability, and social responsibility.
This article will cover:
- Key findings from the 2019 Social Responsibility and Sustainability student and staff surveys
- Progress the University has made on the 10 topics that matter most to staff and students
- Past surveys: you said, we did!
- How our survey was conducted
Key findings
Interest in climate change, sustainability and social responsibility are high amongst University of Edinburgh students and staff. The majority of those who interacted with our department found it helpful.
Top 10 priority issues
Staff and students were asked to rank 10 social responsibility and sustainability issues in order of importance. Using renewable energy was the number one priority for students, and improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of our buildings was the number one priority for staff.
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Progress the University has made on the 10 topics that matter most to staff and students
Did you know all of the University’s grid electricity is certified as renewable energy?
There are also several solar renewable energy installations on campus, with plans to build more. This follows a detailed investigation into the potential to install rooftop solar throughout our estate as part of the work of our Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Options Group.
Find out more about low carbon and renewable energy on campus
This year, we launched the #ZeroWasteUoE campaign, to encourage staff and students to waste less, reuse more and recycle effectively. One example is to use a reusable cup in cafés to avoid the University-wide 30p charge for a disposable cup.
The University has recently made many commitments to help it become more resource-efficient:
- A vision to become a Zero Waste University by 2030
- Embedding a Circular Economy approach to resources
- Putting waste prevention, reuse and recycling at the forefront of our relationship with resources
- Striving to be disposable plastic-free by 2030 (non-essential single-use plastics)
These are outlined in the University's Waste Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2018/19 - 2022/23.
We are continually improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of our buildings with the £4.7 million Sustainable Campus Fund. The fund is an internal investment vehicle that finances projects within the University for implementing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainability projects that generate cost savings.
Since 2016, 77 projects have been approved, saving 1,600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and over £520,000. Projects range from upgrading lighting to recovering helium, a precious finite resource, from lab equipment.
If you have noticed a problem with your building, please contact your building manager/fault reporter. The building manager will then investigate and raise an Estates Helpdesk ticket as required.
Read our case studies on improvements Apply for the Sustainable Campus Fund
Recently, the University of Edinburgh was recognised for responsible investment excellence. We are the only Further and Higher Education institution in the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment's 2019 Leaders' Group, and one of nine organisations in the UK named in the group.
In 2013, the University of Edinburgh became the first university in Europe to sign the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, an internationally-recognised initiative seeking to build a more sustainable financial system.
In 2018, the University announced it would complete its transition out of fossil fuel investments within three years. By 2021, it will be the largest university endowment in the UK to be free of fossil fuel investment.
The University has invested more than £150 million in low carbon technology, climate-related research and businesses that directly benefit the environment since 2010.
Find out more about zero fossil fuel investments by 2021 Find out more about the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment's 2019 Leaders' Group
The University offers a range of support for active travel and lower carbon transport, such as a Cycle to Work scheme for staff, free cycling training and repairs, secure bike parking, shower facilities, discounted bike locks and an interest-free public transport loan.
The University of Edinburgh Integrated Transport Plan 2017 – 2021 has targets to increase walking, cycling and public transport use, with actions to meet those targets.
Find out more about on the transport website Read the Integrated Transport Plan
The University is guided by our Fair Trade Policy. We are a member of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum and Edinburgh Fair Trade City Group, working with others to advance fair trade nationally and locally.
Last year the University signed the International Fair Trade Charter, launched in September 2018, by the World Fair Trade Organisation and Fairtrade International. Supporters of the charter share a vision of a world in which everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full human potential.
The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh University Students' Association continue to hold a two-star Fairtrade University Award from the Fairtrade Foundation and NUS.
Find out more about Fair Trade at the University
The University will launch a Biodiversity Strategy in 2020 to set out its ambition to improve biodiversity and the number of green spaces on campus. Recent examples of improved biodiversity include:
- Green infrastructure mapping work has been carried out looking at Pollock Halls and Kings Buildings.
- Surveys have been taking place as part of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign. Find out about second-year Veterinary student Niamh Kinch’s experience on our blog.
- The Kings Buildings permaculture garden is a promising example of student and staff food growing on campus.
The University of Edinburgh is leading an international network to see how the higher education sector as a whole can adapt to reduce travel. This collaborative approach supports the sharing of ideas, establishes the scale of business travel emissions within the sector, and offers a platform for open discussion on this challenging topic.
In addition, the University has set up an internal working group to consider options for addressing carbon emissions from business travel at the University. This working group is due to put forward recommendations in mid-2020.
Find out more about the Roundtable of Sustainable Academic Travel Business travel information for staff
The University is currently working to map the academic curriculum against the Sustainable Development Goals, with the aim of identifying best practice and opportunities to further embed the climate crisis and wider sustainability issues into courses.
A 20 credit online course on Sustainability and Social Responsibility is open to every student in the University, while the Our Changing World course is open to all undergraduate students. Academic teaching staff in the Business School and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies have recently integrated sustainability into a number of academic courses.
In 2016 the University adopted a Good Food Policy to set out the University's commitment to supporting food systems that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Our commitments are structured into five themes: sourcing, provision, practice, research learning & teaching and leadership & culture. The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS), the Department for Accommodation, Catering and Events (ACE) and the Procurement Office work together to put the policy into practice and identify areas for further improvement.
Central to our policy is our vision of a responsible catering service that succeeds in providing healthy, sustainable and affordable food to our customers.
Since 2016 we have made significant progress in several areas including ensured more vegetarian and plant-based catering options on campus. We increased the proportion of plant-based and vegetarian options on offer to 40% in each outlet. By July 2020, 50% of options in every outlet will be plant-based or vegetarian.
Find out more about Good Food at the University
Past surveys: you said, we did!
We read every response you give in our survey and ensure your comments are taken into consideration.
In the last few years, the results of our previous surveys and suggestions from staff and students have helped build the case for:
- The Estates Department to plan to install over 200 water points across the campus to increase access to drinking water and make it easier to use a reusable bottle.
- One volunteer day a year has been made available to every member of University staff.
Progress has been made to address staff and student demand to tackle waste issues:
- The Edinburgh University Students’ Association was the first in Scotland to offer a 'Zero Waste Corner' in David Hume Tower campus shop.
- University of Edinburgh cafés have started putting food that would otherwise go to waste on the Too Good To Go app for reduced prices.
- Terracycle recycling points set up by staff and students around the University allow items that aren't normally recycled, like crisp and biscuit packets to be collected and recycled.
How our survey was conducted
The 2019 Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) staff and student surveys were distributed by Communication and Marketing’s Market Insight team from April to July 2019.
Our survey now runs once every two years, but previously ran two years in a row, in 2016 and 2017.
The online survey was emailed to 11,778 staff, with 1,857 responses (16% of those it was sent to). It was emailed to 38,509 students and had 2,589 responses (7% of those it was sent to), and is considered to be a representative sample of the University population.
Social Stories Club boxes were offered as prizes for participants.
We always want to hear from you
Remember, you can always contact us at SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk or message us on our social media channels.
General enquiries
- Social Responsibility and Sustainability
Contact details
- Work: +44 (0)131 651 3000
- Email: SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk
- @edsust
Address
- Street
Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability
The Boilerhouse
High School Yards- City
- Edinburgh
- Post Code
- EH1 1LT