Welcome to your February newsletter
Posted on 11 February 2025
New Year, Same Planet Fair
We kick started February with attendance at the Student’s Union ‘New Year, Same Planet Fair’ in James Hall. This sustainability-themed fair gave students the opportunity to speak to a wide range of student societies, local charities and other organisations about ways to get involved and hear about work currently being done to address environmental and sustainability concerns.
Our very own sustainability team attended to promote some of the opportunities and activities on campus including the Energy Savings Campaign, College Sustainability Challenge, York Interdisciplinary Modules for 2025/26 and the Sustainability Clinic. It was a day full of positive conversations and making great connections, with more than 150 students passing through and picking up a free Fruit and Root bag.
Check out the SU ‘guide to sustainability: what to keep and what to ditch in 2025’ for more ideas https://yorksu.org/news/
Are you a student interested in joining like minded students? Check out their AtoZ of societies including many with a green heart.
Green Impact: February spotlight
Green Impact teams across the University have been making significant sustainability improvements by working towards a Green Impact award for their team. More than 550 positive actions have been completed this year. Here are the highest scoring teams so far - well done to them and all participating teams!
- International Pathway College
- Kent group, Biology
- Biology Infrastructure Team
- Department of Computer Science
- The Norwegian Study Centre
- Environment & Geography Labs
- STEM Learning
- YCL Catering & Hospitality
- Alphey Lab
- Halifax College
The Green Impact deadline is 25th April 2025 so there’s still plenty of time to get involved and get an award for your team. Go to the toolkit now to get started! If you are not yet involved in Green Impact, get in touch with GreenImpact@york.ac.uk to find out more and set up a team in your department!
Green Impact: Actions for this month
This month there are lots of actions which you can complete relating to the upcoming Sustainability Week 3 to 7 March. Check out General 066 and 067 and Colleges 004 and 035.
It’s not too late to organise an event either within your team or one which is open to the wider university community. Contact sustainability@york.ac.uk with your ideas.
Waste week is coming up for the College Sustainability Challenge, so why not use the opportunity to tick off some recycling and waste reduction themed actions?
- General 039 Conduct at least 4 visual audits of the different bins in the department to see if items are being recycled correctly, and communicate your results with the team.
- General 059 Crisp packets and sweet wrappers can no longer be recycled on campus, and dual bin posters are being re-designed accordingly. Conduct a visual inspection of all bins in your area of work, and if you notice a dual bin nearby which is incorrect in this messaging, contacted greenimpact@york.ac.uk to receive a new poster to swap it out for.
College Sustainability Challenge - Climate Quiz
This year’s climate quiz has launched! Enter before 16 February and answer 7 questions for the chance to win ethical chocolate for you & your College.
College Sustainability Challenge - Waste Week
This year all Colleges are taking part in the College Sustainability Challenge - the sustainability competition between the residences, and as part of that, week commencing 17 February is the Waste Action Week, which focuses on reducing waste.
During the week, take part in competitions, a quiz, and top tips to reduce waste. Enter to be in with the chance of winning one of ten £5 vouchers!
- Competition: What would help you to recycle more in halls?
- Competition: Re-order the 5 Rs (you don’t have to get it right to win, just give it a go!).
- Quiz: Moving out and reducing waste – find out more about how to move out sustainably, and keep waste to a minimum.
Finally, here are our top tips to reduce waste:
- Avoid impulse purchases - always consider a purchase for 48 hours before committing to it.
- Remember your reusables - bottles, bags and cups!
- Don’t overbuy food! Keep track of what you’ve bought and used, and always use a list when food shopping.
- Love your freezer! Batch-cook and freeze portions for easy meals. You can also freeze lots of items - just check the label.
- Choose everyday zero waste items, like loose vegetables or plastic-free tea bags
College Sustainability Challenge provides advice to help you live more sustainably, with regular competitions and free training and online resources. As well as taking personal action to reduce your carbon footprint, you will also be helping your residence win the overall competition, with the most sustainable residence getting a prize at the end of the year!
College Sustainability Challenge - could you be a champion for your college?
Do you want to gain green skills and make a difference to your College this year? Become a College Sustainability Challenge champion for your College!
We would love to meet anyone who is interested in volunteering with us at our in person training session on Tuesday 4 March, 4-5pm in the Sustainability Clinic (Market Square, next to Nisa). Sign up here.
The informal training session covers an introduction to sustainability, how you can take sustainable action in your accommodation and what it means to be a CSC Volunteer. Once you have attended the training we have lots of activities that will help you take action on the climate crisis whilst also contribute to your professional development.
SOS-UK Webinar: Ethical Finance: 13 February
Ever wondered what banks do with your money when you deposit it in an account with them? Want to know how the world’s most polluting and exploiting industries are funding? This session will give you an overview of the role of the global financial industry in our world’s most pressing climate and social crises – and how organisations can use their influence to help build a just, sustainable economy. Sign up here.
UoY spotlight: York to lead effort to provide solar energy in Africa
Researchers at the University of York will lead a major project to provide clean, solar energy to rural communities in Africa. The Co-Designing Clean Energy for Rural Africa with Service Innovations and Digital Twins (CREDIT) project will see the deployment of off-grid solar ‘mini-grids’ in three rural African communities. It’s one of 13 UK research initiatives funded through the UKRI Ayrton Challenge Programme. Read more here.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February
International Day of Women and Girls in Science was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. This Day is a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened. The celebration is led by UNESCO and UN-Women, in collaboration with institutions and civil society partners that promote women and girls’ access to and participation in science.
International Polar Bear Day: 27 February
On average, only about half of all Polar Bear cubs reach adulthood, with even lower survival rates in the most vulnerable populations. Therefore, this year's World Polar Bear Day is focused on raising funds to help protect moms and cubs, giving them the best possible chance of survival, while also supporting Polar Bears Internationals' other conservation efforts across the Arctic.
Study a sustainability elective module in 2025/26
Our sustainability-related York Interdisciplinary Modules (YIMs) are now open for applications. These award-winning elective modules are a great opportunity for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students to explore sustainability beyond their degree programme and develop interdisciplinary skills for a changing world.
This includes the Sustainability Clinic; Future of Food; Climate Crisis Action Lab; and Sustainability and Policy. Explore our sustainability elective modules and apply via e:Vision.
Explore our new sustainability web pages
Our updated Sustainability at York web pages showcase activities across teaching, research and campus operations, plus opportunities for you to get involved. Explore upcoming events, news and ways to join sustainability initiatives. Have a suggestion or something to add? Email anna.morfitt@york.ac.uk
Attend the annual Student Sustainability Research Conference 2025 (5 March, University of Leeds)
Are you a staff or student at the University of York? You're invited to attend this year's Student Sustainability Research Conference at the University of Leeds on 5 March. The SSRC25 is a free carbon neutral conference hosted at the University of Leeds, where students from Yorkshire institutions across all levels share their sustainability knowledge. You'll experience presentations, workshops, performances and art installations from students across Yorkshire and the Humber. Tickets are first come first served - make sure to book your space before they go! There will be a free bus to and from York for those who wish to attend and need transport (limited spaces). Book your space.
Book your space: Play for the Planet 2 (25 April, University of York)
Are you curious about the role of games in tackling environmental challenges? Whether you’re a game designer, researcher, or just passionate about the planet, Play for the Planet invites you to connect, learn, and play! This one-day event explores how games—tabletop, digital, and role-playing—can drive education, research, and public engagement on climate and ecological crises. Sign up to attend.
Links and further information
Don’t forget to follow UoY sustainability on social media.
You can also check out UoY Sustainability on our wordpress blog, or click the links below to find out more!
- UoY Sustainability pages
- Our Sustainability Plan 2021-2030
- Staff can join the Green Impact slack channel: #green-impact.
- Green Impact toolkit (registration code: 40238)
- Green Impact google site
- SOS-UK webinar series