Go Green Week

University of Manchester People & Planet organised a brilliant Go Green Week in October 2009, encouraging students to begin a number of environmentally-friendly activities, including:

• recycling,
• avoiding food waste,
• cycling more,
• eating seasonal, local food,
• cutting down on the meat and dairy, *saving energy
• and cutting their carbon footprint by 10% (as part of the 10:10 campaign).

This campaign reached thousands of students, as there were promotions in the Student Direct free weekly newspaper as well as online promotions and banners put up at the student union. The group also distributed ‘Go Green packs’ (including free energy saving lightbulbs!) to students in an effort to inform them about the issues and providing practical ways to lower their carbon footprints.

Behaviour Change

The group has a number of key members sitting on the Student Union executive board, so have access to important resources to mobilise students. They organised a CAN film festival, as well as promoting the monthly Critical Mass in Manchester in an effort to encourage car users to switch to the bike.

Cutting Waste: The group have been running a campaign to cut the use of disposable water bottles and promoting re-usable bottles. They organised an awareness-raising photo stunt contrasting the bottles thrown away in a week to the 1 reusable bottle and have overseen the installation of new water fountains.

Sustainable local food: The group willl establish a Food Co-op and start running farmer’s market stalls on campus regularly.

Students present their university with Green League honour

A Facebook group has been set up to raise awareness about events in Manchester as well as raising awareness among students. The group also organised a graduation ceremony in November to present Manchester University with the honour of a third class degree in environmental performance that was awarded to it in People & Planet’s annual Green League table.

Flying less

Manchester P&P has been very involved in the campaign to stop the expansion of Manchester Airport and run several awareness-raising protests, petitions,, media articles and promoted public meetings around this issue to students. They’ve also worked closely with a range of community groups opposing the expansion of aviation.