Green Education Declaration Launched!
Go Green Week is upon us. To mark the start of the UK's first national student week of action against climate chaos the Green Education Declaration was launched with ten Vice Chancellors and other education sector representatives already signed up.
Elle Gray, former student P&P campaigner, now Student Union President at Portsmouth, presents VC John Craven with Portsmouth’s Green League Certificate.
Yes Go Green Week has finally arrived with actions and events planned at loads of schools and campuses across the UK. Many students will be lobbying their Vice Chancellor or Principal to ensure they sign The Green Education Declaration. The Declaration was launched this morning with a total of thirteen initial signatories. It calls for this year’s Climate Change Bill to commit the education sector to a clear carbon reduction strategy.
Vice Chancellors from ten universities plus the National Union of Students, the University and College Union and the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges have become the first to sign the Declaration. An up to date list of signatories is available through the P&P website so you can keep checking back to see if your VC or Principal has signed up.
The universities who have already signed are Oxford Brookes, Leeds Metropolitan, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Queen’s University Belfast, Gloucestershire, University of the West of England and Buckinghamshire New University. Nine of these institutions gained Firsts in People & Planet’s Green league 2007 proving they are sustainability leaders in the higher education sector.
Oxford Brookes University was the first initial signatory; their Vice Chancellor, Professor Janet Beer, described why she was keen to put her name to it:
I signed the Green Education Declaration as I see the potential for the education sector to act as a role model when it comes to tackling climate change. At Oxford Brookes University we have led the way in sustainability issues for a number of years and our top 5 place in the Green League of universities demonstrates this.
Students at University of Wales, Aberystwyth have already secured a meeting with their Pro-VC, who is going to publicly sign the Declaration on behalf of their VC.
Jenny Mace, University of Wales, Aberystwyth People & Planet said:
We’re meeting our Pro-Vice Chancellor to ensure he publicly signs the Green Education Declaration. By signing up, he can tell the world that our university will be at the forefront of meeting the challenge of climate change.
Do let us know if you’re planning to lobby your VC and keep checking the website for more Go Green week updates!