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Greenspace

Environmental Policy and Strategic Plan

Environmental Sustainability Policy

Durham University enjoys a high quality environment at its two sites, one within the setting of an historical city and the other a modern campus. It is committed to maintaining, and wherever possible, improving the quality of this environment, both for the people who live and work in the University (approx 3,500 staff / 16,000 students) and for the wider community. This commitment is reflected in policies which seek to make the most effective and efficient use of all our resources, minimise pollution, comply with relevant legislation and encourage all members of the University community to develop a sustainable approach to their work and lifestyle.

Mission

Our mission is to make Durham University recognised as one of the most environmentally sustainable universities in the UK by 2020. To achieve this goal will require the active commitment of every member of the University community.

Aims

  • To analyse the University’s environmental footprint and initiate changes necessary to improve the University’s environmental performance.
  • To make all members of the University community aware of their environmental impacts and to encourage them to develop a sustainable approach to their work and lifestyle.
  • To co-operate, where possible, with the wider community, in order to implement environmental action plans from the local community through to the global level.

Commitment

DurhamUniversityseeks to create the future through internationally recognised research, scholarship and learning within a distinctive collegiate environment. Within this context, we will advance environmental sustainability through research, teaching, personal behaviour and experience gained over time. To that end,DurhamUniversityis committed to:

  • Demonstrating institutional practices that promote environmental sustainability;
  • Addressing environmental sustainability in every major strategic plan;
  • Establishing indicators and targets for sustainability that will enable monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement;
  • Complying with all relevant environmental legislation;
  • Promoting environmental awareness within the University community;
  • Reducing our carbon emissions through the implementation of our Carbon Management Plan
  • Making efficient use of resources to minimise our waste production whilst increasing recycling and reuse within the University;
  • Conserving water and managing our discharges;
  • Achieving the targets set out in our Green Travel plans (one for each campus);
  • Maintaining, and where possible, improving our environmental purchasing through our sustainable procurement policy;
  • Seeking additional funding in order to carry out environmental improvements;
  • Ensuring that environmental sustainability is considered in research, research methods and funding applications;
  • Ensuring that environmental sustainability is considered in teaching, teaching methods and course administration (including examinations) and working towards embedding sustainable development into the curriculum;
  • Enhancing the health of ecosystems and increasing the diversity of native species across the University estate;
  • Ensuring that environmental sustainability is central to the future development of the University, especially the built environment, seeking wherever possible solutions that allow environmental considerations to be optimised;
  • Working with the local community to help the region become more sustainable.

Professor T P Burt

Dean of Environmental Sustainability

Reviewed: July 2012

Due for review: July 2013

Strategic Plan

The strategic plan was approved by the Greenspace Advisory Group in January 2012 and is due for review in January 2013.