The Sustainability Change Makers Programme took place over two Wednesdays in March and saw 20 students undertake tasks to help them think of solutions to sustainability challenges in a different way. Some of the techniques used include Design Thinking, Leadership for Change and Sustainability Storytelling. Well done to all our amazing students who brainstormed, discussed and debated sustainability.

Our LEAF labs are currently in the last days of completing their Bronze and Silver workbooks. The deadline to complete workbooks is Friday 21 April.

As part of the auditing process, labs will be assigned an auditor who is responsible for organising a visit to their assigned lab and fill in the workbook feedback, describing how labs have met the Bronze criteria.

The auditing process will happen over a two-week period, starting on Monday 24 April and finishing on Friday 5 May. If there are any questions about the audits, then please be sure to contact sustainability@qub.ac.uk.

Prior to the Agreement 25 taking place at Queen’s University over 17 – 19 April, Campus Food and Drink received a shipment of cups from a company called 2GoCup. The reusable cups were provided to all conference delegates to help reduce the amount of paper cups used on campus. As a result of the reusable cups, 10,000 disposable cups were prevented from being used, which is a brilliant statistic. This was a very successful initiative that will be rolled out for all future conferences on campus. Well done to Campus Food and Drink for implementing this change for Agreement 25!

Carbon Literacy training sessions will be happening over the course of Semester 2 for staff and students. Please see below carbon literacy dates with availability:

• Student full day course- Thursday 27 April, from 10am - 4pm in The Cube, One Elmwood.
• Staff and Student modular online course- Thursday 4, 11 & 18 May, from 10am - 12 noon.
• Staff sessions can now be found on iTrent Self Service.

LEAF is a sustainable lab certification programme launched in Queen's labs in 2021 that explores how labs across campus can become more aware of their sustainability. Lab are encouraged to discover ways in which they can improve the sustainability of their teaching and research.

The programme aims to embed good sustainability practices within participating University laboratories, with a view to rolling out across all labs at the University. As of May 2022, 12 labs have achieved Bronze awards in the LEAF Programme.

We are currently recruiting eligible labs to participate in the programme for 2022/2023. If you think your lab would be a good fit, then please email sustainability@qub.ac.uk.

Staff are invited to join the University's newly established Sustainability Forum.

The forum aims to offer an informal network to enable colleagues to share information and updates on projects, teaching and institutional initiatives, drawing on work from across all sectors of the University.

The forum is open to all staff who have an interest in sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – whether generally or related to their work or expertise.

The Big Loop Bike Hub at Queen's has been up and running since October 2021, gaining traction with staff and students. This initiative encourages an alternative method to travelling by car, helping to reduce congestion on campus and lower staff and student carbon footprints across the university.

The Bike Hub offers a wide range of services, such as: leasing and purchasing refurbished second-hand bikes, safety equipment, puncture repair and more.

For more information, including booking bikes in for services, visit the hub’s webpage or call into the Bike Hub itself, located on Level 1 of the Administration Building (opposite the McClay Library).

To keep up to date on all things Green at Queen's make sure you join the Teams Sustainability Champion Network. 

This network provides you with the opportunity to chat with fellow green minded people, ask questions, discover what resources and events are taking place, and finally, read the latest Green at Queen's E-Zine!

Join QUB Planning School as they explore how the SDGs can help us articulate and respond to the challenges for Belfast in terms of creating sustainable cities and communities by tackling vacancy (SDG11), how we enhance Biodiversity and support Life on Land (SDG 15) and consider innovative modal solutions for Infrastructure (SDG 9).

They will be exploring real places and lived experiences and bringing in a range of experts to comment on and lead us in the discussion.

There are 3 sessions to attend, across a range of dates, times and locations:

• City Conversation #3 – Mobility. 27 April 2023: 6:30pm, Accidental Theatre

If you are interesting attending, tickets are available at this link.

Calling all future change makers and innovators!

Join us for our Sustainable Entrepreneurship Programme, a 3-day boot camp and learn how to develop a business idea that could change the world…

Register your interest at this link or scan the QR code attached!

This is an opportunity for Students, Staff, and local residents to come together and create a place that’s transformed into a tranquil den in the University Quarter.

What: Activities will range from basic painting in the space, preparing planters, simple gardening and finally decorating so there will be something for everyone.

Where: Queen’s Film Theatre- exact details will be emailed once you signup.

When: Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6 May (11am-1pm and/or 1pm-3pm each day). Time slots available for people to drop in for a 2- or 4-hour slot. Thursday will break the week up and we plan to have chatty chairs and bird feeder session on that day.

Why: This is an opportunity to reimagine a courtyard space into a sensory style garden that staff, students, and cinema goers can unwind, relax, and connect. Creating a safe space that people can actively have an input into how it looks through volunteering.

The School of Psychology Green Initiative Group would like to invite you to a seminar by Dr Marica Cassarino, University College Cork. The talk titled ‘Giving Psychology “away” in a climate crisis: Learnings from community-engaged research on air quality attitudes in Cork City’ will be held on Monday 15 May from 1pm – 2pm in room 0G.533 in the David Keir Building (DKB), Malone Road Belfast, followed by light refreshments.

Please register via Eventbrite.

Event by SECA

When? Friday 28 April, 12:30 – 15:30

Where? 27 University Square, Room 01/003

Co-hosted by Brink! and the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action (SECA), the workshop will begin with a brief panel discussion on sustainability goals and actions within and beyond the university, with contributions from creative practitioners, QUB staff and students. This will be followed by an interactive practical session, with groups discussing and presenting ideas on what we can and should do as citizens, and as a society, to tackle these challenges.

For more details and to register, click here.

Event by SECA

When? Tuesday 2 May, 2pm – 4pm

Where? 26 University Square, Room 01/005

Agriculture holds an integral position within the socio-economic well-being of many rural regions. In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, agriculture has a disproportionately high influence on the creation of greenhouse gas emissions. While changes are needed to agricultural practices to reduce emission creation, applying such measures in a top-down, unjust fashion may result in a backlash against climate policy and increased support for political groups who deny the need for climate action.

Tickets available here.

Following the Net Zero Campaign that took place at the start of the year, the strategy and action plan has been created in partnership with Arup Consultants and The Sustainability Team.

This strategy and action plan will be reviewed by key internal groups over the coming months, with the launch of the strategy planned for June 2023.

If you have any questions on the Net Zero Strategy, please email sustainability@qub.ac.uk.