Higher Education Sustainability

Thursday 10th December 2009, Grosvenor Hotel, London, 09:15 - 16:00

Higher Education and the Sustainability Challenge

'"Universities can play a vital role in our economic recovery, especially in advancing a strategy for real and lasting change in order to reduce our carbon footprint. The results of this consultation will be awaited with enormous interest.”

Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, 29 July 2009

Overview

The Government unveiled (July 2009) its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK by 34% within 11 years, setting the nation on track for an 80% cut by 2050. According to Sir Alan Langlands, HEFCE chief executive, higher education is "uniquely placed to play a leading role" in helping the UK to meet its targets.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will require institutions to have carbon-management plans in place after 2011. To add to the pressure on universities, the Government has said that from 2011, some of the funding that institutions will receive will be linked to how well they are reducing their carbon emissions.

The university sector in England, meanwhile, has been devising carbon reduction targets of its own. A joint consultation between HEFCE, Universities UK and GuildHE on developing a carbon reduction target and strategy for higher education in England was published on 29 July 2009. The consultation asks for views on proposed sector-level targets for the reduction of carbon emissions and a proposed strategy for achieving these targets.

HEFCE propose that the higher education sector:

Commits to reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and by at least 34 per cent by 2020, against a 1990 baseline
Aspires to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2020 and by 100 per cent by 2050, against 1990 levels
Commits to reducing scope 3 emissions and to improving measurement of scope 3 emissions with the intention of setting targets for these emissions in the future.

The strategy aims to focus efforts in areas that offer the greatest potential carbon reduction return, such as: energy use within the estate; transport; water consumption; waste; and procurement, through technical, structural and behavioural solutions. It also aims to identify issues that need further consideration and support.

The consultation sets out areas where HEFCE, Universities UK and GuildHE will work with institutions and other stakeholders to achieve carbon reductions. It will be for individual institutions to decide, within the national set of targets, how to reduce, measure, review and report progress on their own emissions.

Agenda

09:15	Coffee and Registration
10:00	Opening Remarks by Chair Iain Patton, Executive Director, Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (CONFIRMED)
10:05	Special Keynote: Higher Education Carbon Reduction Strategy and Target Making higher education institutions leaders in the sustainability agenda Outcomes of the joint consultation New funding proposals and carbon management plans Linking capital funding to carbon emissions Good practice guidelines Achieving a genuine carbon reduction culture in higher education Steve Egan, Deputy Chief Executive and Director (Finance and Corporate Resources), The Higher Education Funding Council for England (CONFIRMED)
10:25	Sustainable Procurement in Higher Education Integrating sustainability in procurement practices Provide more effective sustainable, procurement Delivering best value for money Jenny Bushrod DMS MA MCIPS, Chair of the Association of University Procurement Officers, University of Plymouth (CONFIRMED)
10:45	Towards a Zero-carbon, Zero-waste LSE Establishing a Environmental Management System Producing sustainability champions on campus Zero waste pilot Sustainable procurement plan and ethical investment policy Dr Victoria Hands, Environmental & Sustainability Manager, London School of Economics & Political Science (CONFIRMED)
11:05	Coffee and Networking
11.25	Questions and Answers Session
11:45	Designing Sustainability in Higher Education Designing with the future in mind Realising the potential of existing buildings Sustainable refurbishment and regeneration Ian Caldwell, Director of Estates and Facilities, Kings College London and Chair, Higher Education Design Quality Forum (HEDQF) (CONFIRMED)
12:05	Managing the Energy-Built Environment Interface: Insights from a Foresight Report What is the scope for decentralised energy options in higher education? How to approach retrofitting for energy efficiency in higher education What is the role of smart metering and green leases in higher education? Professor Yvonne Rydin, Chair of the SEMBE Project's Expert Panel, Foresight & Professor of Planning, Environment and Public Policy at University College London's Bartlett School of Planning (CONFIRMED)
12:25	Sustainable ICT: Greening Devices and Networks and Smarter Use Drivers for sustainable ICT Energy and carbon footprint of ICT use in higher education Greening the desktop Towards ‘net zero carbon’ data centres Maximising beneficial ICT applications Key barriers and how to overcome them Examples of best practice Peter James, Professor of Environmental Management, University of Bradford, and Co-Director, Good Campus (CONFIRMED)
12.45	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Higher Education and the Sustainability Challenge Building Britain’s low carbon economy – role higher education can play through its partnerships and knowledge transfers Expanding graduates skills Linking future funding to reduction in carbon emissions Professor Chris Gaskell, Principal, The Royal Agricultural College (CONFIRMED)
14:20	Working Together for Sustainability – On Campus and Beyond Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Project Developing curricula and pedagogy that will give students the skills and knowledge to live and work sustainably Ensuring sustainability features in every aspect of campus life Embedding sustainability initiatives into broader strategic plans Green economy, green jobs Dr Stephen Sterling, Associate Director of the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF), University of Plymouth, and Senior Advisor to the Higher Education Academy Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Project (CONFIRMED)
14:40	Coffee and Networking
15:00	Creating a Sustainable Community on Campus Nottingham Trent’s carbon management plan Sustainable ICT policy Waste management plan Sustainable procurement plan and ethical investment policy Nottingham’s District Heat Scheme Environmental themed initiatives on campus Stephen Jackson, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Nottingham Trent University ( Top of the People & Planet League Table) (CONFIRMED)
15:20	Closing Keynote: Sustainability in Higher Education: Next Steps Future capital allocations to carbon reduction Engaging reluctant institutions Involving every member of staff in sustainability Greener travel plans Comprehensive environmental auditing Patricia Broadfoot, Chair, University UK’s Sustainability Taskforce (CONFIRMED)
15:40	Questions and Answers Session
16:00	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from central government departments & bodies, local authorities, trade unions, think tanks, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, housing associations, RSLs, social services, voluntary sector, local strategic partnerships, local, regional and national health services, NGOs, environmental organisations, children’s services; adult services; elected representatives; trade unions; business representative bodies; universities, research institutions and think-tanks; health advice organisations.

Higher Education Sustainability

Thursday 10th December 2009, Grosvenor Hotel, London, 09:15 - 16:00

Higher Education and the Sustainability Challenge

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