University of York researchers at the forefront of tackling climate change

Posted on Friday 20 September 2019

‌Working across all three faculties we are using a collaborative approach to tackle the climate crisis and the existential threat we face.

Today, there will be an unprecedented, coordinated, day of global action to inspire awareness, activism and action that will involve millions of people participating in a range of events around the world to raise awareness about the climate crisis.

Here at the University of York we are showing our solidarity with the climate protest by highlighting across our homepage the research we are doing to help tackle climate change. We are also holding a series of events to tangibly demonstrate our own institutional concern.  

As part of our response, staff are also being encouraged to take 30 minutes during their working day to mark the fight against climate change, in addition to their normal agreed breaks. Staff and students are invited to come along to the Spring Lane Building from noon to 2pm to:

• see a range of exhibitions and stalls showcasing our work in sustainability

• at 1pm, hear from scientists Professor James Clark and Dr Avtar Matharu about the work being undertaken in our Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence to turn waste food into valuable materials and products.

Their research is just one example of the array of interdisciplinary research projects across the University that are addressing different aspects of climate change.

Our research also includes:

• The IKnowFood project to improve the resilience of our food systems to shocks from climate change and market shifts  
• Using microwave technology to extract chemicals and biofuels from food waste 
• European research collaboration to prove the feasibility of using starch in energy storage and green catalysis
• Using wild ancestor plants to make rice more resilient to increasingly unpredictable water availability

Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery said: “I have no doubt that climate change is a global crisis that requires an emergency response. The global drive, led predominantly by young people, to highlight the urgent need to work together to tackle this crisis, is admirable and worthy of our respect.

“The climate crisis, and our institutional response to it, is something that I and the University Executive Board are considering as a key theme in the new University Strategy, and I will say more on this topic during my inaugural address. 

“For now I hope that everyone in our community will take the time to read about the range of ways our work is contributing to the sustainability agenda and to attend today’s event in the Spring Lane Building. I am delighted that we have so many colleagues across the University whose work is contributing to tackling this extraordinary challenge.”