Abstract
This research examines environmental sustainability in the UK university context. Universities are prioritising sustainability commitments with many declaring a Climate Emergency, as well as recognising the importance of educating students about climate change. This research used a case-study approach in which semi-structured interviews were coupled with secondary data analysis, and suggests universities are pivotal for greater environmental sustainability. The results reiterate the urgent need to significantly improve environmental performance and educate people in the field of sustainability, whilst presenting the challenges and realities faced in doing so. It is recommended that in order to achieve optimum sustainability solutions a cohesive approach is required to embed a common sustainability narrative for all.
Highlights
Since emerging as a concept in the 1980s, sustainable development has become a central concept for our age (Sachs, 2015b)
This research is timely given stark claims from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (2018) that warned that allowing temperatures to rise more than 1.5°C will have catastrophic, and potentially irreversible, effects on the planet
The analysis presented here adopts a thematic approach, combining key ideas with extant literature to explore environmental sustainability at Cardiff University
Summary
Since emerging as a concept in the 1980s, sustainable development has become a central concept for our age (Sachs, 2015b). Often termed the ‘Anthropocene’, scientists believe we have entered a new historical epoch in which humans themselves are the dominant force for planetary change (Crutzen, 2006). Sustainable development is both a way of understanding the world and a method for solving global problems (Sachs, 2015b). The IPCC is a global body assessing the science relating to climate change and has not typically published such urgent warnings, indicating the severity of the situation Based on this backdrop of mounting climate uncertainty, this research. As a research-intensive institution, Cardiff University has a clear vision to improve its environmental performance
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