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Our Sustainable vision
We have long been a leader in the field of environmental research and training, and we are committed to replicating this success in how we care for our campus and its surrounding environment. Through effectively managing our estate, we strive to reduce the environmental impact of our operational activities and make a positive contribution to the local environment.
Governance
The Sustainability Committee is a vital part of all that we do at UEA. Sustainability is an over-arching value of the University, and the Committee helps us shape the ways our community can respond to the global climate and biodiversity crises. It is the forum through which UEA demonstrates publicly how we are addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and showcases our aspirations and achievements as a leading institution in tackling climate change.
– Professor Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Chair of the Sustainability Board and Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Environmental Sustainability is included within the portfolio of responsibilities of three members of our Executive Team (the University’s Senior Management Team). Professor Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, chairs the Sustainability Board. Professor Mark Searcey, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Science, and Ian Callaghan, Chief Resource Officer, are also Board members.
The Sustainability Committee, which meets quarterly, supports and influences initiatives to improve performance at Executive Team level. The Sustainability Committee reports to UEA Council, the executive governing body of the University.
In addition, we have recently invested around £4.5 million on replacing central boiler plant, upgrading CHPs, and installing thermal storage tanks on our district heating network. These have reduced carbon dioxide emissions to below our 1990 baseline.
We have invested around £2 million in energy efficiency measures since July 2018. Phase 1 of these measures has reduced our energy use by 7% and Phase 2 has offset the energy use of the New Science Building.
The Campus Development Programme is a key part of our NetZero strategy by improving energy efficiency of the original 1960s-built Lasdun Wall and reducing the footprint of the campus.
Environmental Management System
The Estates and Facilities Directorate leads on the Environmental Management System (EMS) which is certified to BS EN ISO 14001: 2015 standard covering all of our physical estates and operations. The EMS was developed over a number of years using the EcoCampus approach with awards from bronze to platinum. The Estates Leadership Team with support of the EST Sustainability Team coordinate the delivery of EMS targets and environmental projects alongside colleagues from across the University.
Core elements of our Environmental Management System
Our Environmental and Energy Sustainability Policy establishes our sustainable environmental management goals and principles of our approach to environmental management.
Our Environmental Programme, as determined by each impact area's Implementation Team, helps to deliver commitments in our Environmental and Energy Sustainability Policy.
General environmental awareness training is delivered to all staff through induction programmes. A programme of job-specific training is on-going, for example biodiversity training for all project managers and relevant staff. Several student induction programmes also include sustainability lectures.
Environmental Sustainability of Research & Innovation
In 2024 the University signed up to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. Full details of the Concordat can be found at Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice (wellcome.org) and the Vice Chancellor’s statement confirming the University’s commitment to the aims of the Concordat can be read here.
Archive: Environmental Reports back catalogue