Climate justice and sustainability
We're delighted to announce that we have partnered up with the university's sustainability team to bring sustainability and climate justice to the heart of campus! This UCB Guild campaign will focus on working with the University directly to help inform and challenge the University's sustainability strategy and to support initiatives that tackle climate degradation, both locally, nationally, and internationally.
What is sustainability?
According to the 1987 UN Burndtland Commission, sustainability is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". As a Students' Union, we believe that the real challenge is to address the unevenness of the pursuit of needs and its discrepancies in a global world. This means tackling the consumption, waste, and general pollution that our education systems produce on a day-to-day basis.
Why should I get involved?
This is an exciting opportunity to get involved and shape the Guild's climate justice campaign in tackling and holding the University accountable for its sustainability strategy. Not only that, we would love to hear from you on some of your ideas, projects, and initiatives that you would like to bring to the Students Union and the type of work you would like us to focus on. Think BIG!
If you would like to get involved with the Students Union and help shape a climate justice campaign please fill in this form.
Alternatively, if you have ideas and campaigns, please contact our staff lead at hamza@ucbguild.co.uk
Finally...
If you would like to stay up to date with the University and receive information on events and activities on sustainability, please join the FE and HE canvas pages below
FE Sustainability Canvas Page Sustainability Engagement FE (instructure.com)
HE Sustainability Canvas Page Sustainability Engagement HE (instructure.com)
UPDATE ON THE CAMPAIGN
19/04/2024
The Equalities officer, Natasha had successfully submitted a motion that demands that the University go Fossil Free at UCB. We have now teamed up with People & Planet who have helped us launch a petition demanding the University to do the following
- Make a public commitment to exclude all fossil fuel companies from their investment portfolio(s)
- Introduce a publicly accessible ethical investment policy that explicitly excludes all fossil fuel companies
- Fully divest from all fossil fuels within 3 years
Please sign the petition as we continue to work with the University to divest from Fossil industries and the full exclusion of these companies through an Ethical Investment policy. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW!
University College Birmingham Divest from fossil Fuels! | People & Planet (peopleandplanet.org)
WORKSHOP!
A workshop to get YOU involved with the Fossil Free campaign at University College Birmingham!
Want to be involved with the campaign to get UCB to divest from fossil fuels? Want to take action in response to the unfolding climate crisis? Then you've clicked on the right link!
"1.5 to stay alive" was the call from small island states in the Caribbean during COP21. 6 years on, in the year of COP26, and the fossil fuel industry is still driving us into climate chaos. Want to take action in solidarity with frontline communities through meaningful climate justice action on your campus?
Join us to get Univeristy College Birmingham out of fossil fuels!
While 72% of UK universities have committed to divest from fossil fules, University College Birmingham is still calculated to hold £1,505,734 in fossil fuel investments. Students all around the Birmingham and the wider UK are demanding for their universities to stop investing in this harmful industry, and to commit to an exlcusion of all fossil fuels from its investment portfolio.
By joining for this interactive and practical session you'll leave with a clear understanding of what actions YOU can take in the fight for climate and social justice, with one clear overarching tactic: using your power as students to push UCB to publicly announce divestment from fossil fuels.
We think it's time for University College Birmingham to go Fossil Free! If you agree, we'll see you there!
To register, please click on the link below!
People & Planet: Introduction to Fossil Free @ University College Birmingham | People & Planet Intranet (peopleandplanet.org)