Universities are uniquely well placed to lead on climate solutions. That opinion seemed to be shared by every panellist at University UK’s conference on universities, sustainability and the climate crisis last month.
But while this may be true, the political context is getting tougher in the UK. We are facing both a government which is back-tracking on climate policies and a growing culture of climate scepticism among young people. So given this, what is the role now for universities in responding to the climate crisis?
The case couldn’t be clearer that universities must continue to do their utmost. Not just because, after more record temperatures and intensifying extreme weather events, climate change has become palpable. But also because students expect their universities to do more on climate change. A 2020 survey of 16-18 year olds by Winchester University showed that fewer than half (46%) rated universities as doing a good job on addressing the climate crisis.
We know that students are not shy if they feel their universities are slacking; a spate of UK institutions were spray-painted orange last Autumn by Just Stop Oil protesters.
