University of Bristol's Sustainability Policy: Is it enough?

By Anna Dodd, Third Year, English

Amongst the many challenges students of this generation will face in the next century, climate change poses the greatest threat, and will, if it continues at its current pace, undoubtedly affect us all. The next six years are set to be some of the most crucial in humanity’s history, with scientists predicting we must achieve net zero by 2050 to stop the effects of climate change from becoming irreversible. 

Researchers from the University of Bristol contributed to a 2018 report confirming that the global temperature rise must not exceed 1.5 °C by 2030 to preserve a habitable climate. This target must be met, to prevent significant environmental impacts such as the deterioration of the food supply chain, and the destruction of ecosystems.  

At their scale of outreach, universities are the ideal institution to lead the way in battling climate change. Universities predominantly serve the lives of young people, which is why it is integral to promote sustainability as a core goal, to inspire the next generation. During the 2022/23 academic year, universities generated a total of £40.8bn, making up 1.6 per cent of the UK’s GDP. Given their level of impact as a national asset, universities undoubtedly have the economic potential to benefit the world we inhabit. 

Through durable initiatives and collaborative efforts climate change can be slowed down. 96 per cent of UK universities, including Bristol, which was the first to declare a climate emergency in 2019, have proposed strategies to reduce carbon emissions in recent years. The university has publicly outlined numerous ambitious goals and targets it plans to meet, such as an eight-step plan to have a carbon-neutral campus by 2030. It also plays a key role in sustainability research through the Cabot Institute for the Environment involving individuals from a wide range of perspectives to help ‘solve the biggest global environmental challenges’. 

The University of Bristol launched the ‘Be the Change’ campaign in 2022 which tackles the climate emergency on an individual level. The university explained the motivation behind this scheme is to empower staff and students ‘with tangible things they can each do to make a difference’. The climate emergency can often leave one feeling powerless, but the focus of this campaign is on minor changes students and staff can make to their lives to become more sustainable, such as eating more plant-based meals, having shorter showers, and volunteering. 

Epigram reached out to approximately 40 students through a survey to gather their views on how satisfied they were with the university’s efforts, and to ascertain how important sustainability was to them.  

When asked if it was very important, somewhat important, or not at all important to them that the university is a sustainable institution, 57 per cent responded that it was very important, and 42 per cent felt it was somewhat important. No students selected ‘Not at all important’.

One student explained, ‘Climate change is incredibly scary and soon to becoming a daunting reality so anything we can to do minimise would help, especially as the uni is a huge institution’. When asked to list examples of sustainable schemes they felt worked well around the university, multiple students included the charge for a disposable cup in source cafes, as well as the frequency of recycling systems across campus. One response specifically noted more covert sustainable choices for students, such as access to online resources to avoid the need to buy textbooks, and motion-sensor lights in buildings. 

Another opportunity for students to become more sustainable is the Moves+ app. By connecting an activity tracker to the app, students and staff can receive rewards based on their activity levels. A hugely popular reward is a free drink up to the value of £2.50 in one of the university’s source cafes. This not only saves money but also encourages more walking across the city, requiring less use of transport such as buses or cars, and reduces the student body's carbon footprint.  

‘The university is a big organisation, they should be on top of this’

Several students were content with the university’s efforts, with one concluding that ‘The university clearly does a lot to stay sustainable and should continue to do so as long as it meets and prioritises the everyday needs of the students’. However, others took a more cynical view. The majority reported that they were only ‘Somewhat aware’ of the university’s sustainability efforts and 85 per cent felt that it could do more to reduce their carbon footprint. One student expressed their frustration, noting that ‘The university is a big organisation, they should be on top of this’. Student suggestions for improvements in this area included installing more reward-based systems, with a sustainable approach in mind, which would give students motivation to reduce their carbon footprint in manageable and easily achievable ways. 

From a student perspective, the University of Bristol could do more to make its goals and targets clearer. The more transparency the university has with its students, staff, and the public, the more they can be held accountable. The strategies set up are certainly commendable but don’t necessarily acknowledge indirect sources of emissions from their supply chains and investments. 

People & Planet’s University League ranks universities on their ‘environmental and ethical performance’ every year based on a number of categories, for 2023/24 the University of Bristol came in at 16 out of 151, scoring 70.3 per cent overall. It performed highly in terms of sustainability staff and ethical investment policies but fell short in ethical careers and water reduction. Nevertheless, the effort and ambition are undeniably there. Like any corporation that relies on complex moving parts, many challenges and problems arise that require addressing to achieve the net zero target.

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Additionally, as students, we cannot passively wait for perfection from our university. If we want to make collective change, simple changes in our everyday lives are required.  Students who wish to get more involved in sustainability have numerous options, which include volunteering with the SU, running events such as tree planting with Avon Needs Trees, or contributing to the Green Impact Awards. 

There is room for everyone to get involved, and together students can work alongside our university to make it a more sustainable place. 

Featured Image: Epigram / Daisy Yates

How do you think universities can further combat climate change?