TellUs: London University Takes Climate Change Action

London University Bans Beef & Fines Single-Use Plastic To Combat Climate Change

Goldsmith University in London

We’ve heard from scientists by now that avoiding animal products is the single-biggest way us individuals can help battle this climate crisis. However understandably it can feel very daunting and frustrating when you are the only individual you know that is participating in this ideal. Many question, and rightly so, what larger organisations are doing with this fact. Many feel its them that need to educate and act just as much as us individuals. So if you’re stuck in this dismay, you maybe pleased to hear that recently a London university has banned beef from its campus - in order to do their part to combat climate change. Not only that but they’ve added an additional fine to single-use plastic as a deterrence method. So let us jump straight into the nitty-gritty!

This month the Goldsmith University in New Cross was struck with changes as Professor Frances Corner took up the new position of warden. Professor Corner was the previous head of the London College of Fashion and is known for her activism and championing of ethical designs. This activism has transferred into environmental action, as Professor Corner stated "declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words”. So putting this into motion as of next month and the start of the academic year, Goldsmiths University in south-east London will be banning beef on their campus and charging a 10p additional fee on single-use plastic. The Professor went onto state that “the growing global call for organisations to take seriously their responsibilities for halting climate change is impossible to ignore”. Which we totally agree with! 

As stated, the ban on beef will occur on campus canteens, shops and cafes. The 10p fine on single-use plastic applies here also. What is also important to note is that academic degrees within the university are under review, in order for students to have opportunities to study and learn about climate change. With the universities student population of approximately 10,000, this is extremely positive news! 

So you maybe asking what is their aim? Well the universities aim is to be carbon-neutral by 2025. As well as the changes stated above they are also installing more solar panels and switching to a “clean” energy supplier. Climate change is extremely noted by the younger generations, as they are the future! Professor Corner alluded to this fact when saying “though I have only just arrived at Goldsmiths, it is immediately obvious that our staff and students care passionately about the future of our environment and that they are determined to help deliver the step change we need to cut our carbon footprint drastically and as quickly as possible”. So when we work together we really can make a difference.

To round this blog off I wanted to highlight why changes need to be made. Lamb, beef and dairy products account for the majority of greenhouse gases emitted by British farms. A report by the Government Committee on Climate Change in 2016 stated that sheep and cattle alone are responsible for 58% of agriculture emissions in the UK. Globally beef is responsible for 41% of livestock greenhouse gas emissions.

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Check out my previous blog: https://www.tellusabouttheenvironment.com/2019/08/tellus-perseids-meteor-shower-2019-what.html