Enough, for all, forever

Newcastle University’s vision is to be a university with a global reputation for academic excellence. Key to realising that vision has been its focus on ‘societal challenge themes’, which is in regard to challenges that affect our whole society; areas in which the University can make a difference through the provision of academic research that provides real solutions.

This year, the University launches the second of its societal challenge themes: sustainability. The aim of the theme is to not only raise awareness of the University’s established expertise in many aspects of sustainability, but most importantly to use its influence and relationships with industry, academia, students and alumni to achieve positive outcomes for a more sustainable future.

Newcastle upon Tyne has been named the most sustainable of the UK’s twenty largest cities for two years in succession (2009 and 2010) by the influential think-tank Forum for the Future.

The Launch Year of sustainability is an opportunity for all members of the Newcastle University community, internally and externally, and the city as a whole, to work together to showcase the area’s sustainability potential, with a view to building upon the city’s existing status, and to work towards becoming an international point of reference for sustainability best practice and solutions.

The sustainability challenge
The challenge, however, is huge and the University recognises that only where there is consensus and active participation will positive changes result. The University has adopted a four-word slogan to capture the essence of the sustainability challenge: Enough, For All, Forever.

‘Enough’ implies a material sufficiency (though not wasteful excess); ‘for all’ evokes both social equity and consideration for the non-human inhabitants of shared ecosystems; ‘forever’ signals respect for natural resource limitations as well as ensuring that we help preserve our planet for future generations.

The vision of ‘Enough, For All, Forever’ is the raison d’être of the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability (NIReS) at Newcastle University, which is fostering inter-disciplinary research throughout and beyond the University community to deliver world-class solutions in the development of clean fossil fuels, renewable energy, water management in the face of climate change and the development of more sustainable modes of transport, to name but a few. The Institute, under the direction of Professor Paul Younger, is leading the campaign.

“The University-wide focus on sustainability provides a boost to our existing efforts to deliver lasting solutions rather than merely analyse problems,” he explained. “The pursuit of a ‘knowledge economy’ is much talked about in academia and government. We want to go a step further, pursuing a ‘wisdom economy’ in which knowledge is tempered by a principled commitment to ensuring that all beings – human and non-human – have access to sufficient resources in perpetuity.”

The sustainability societal challenge theme programme for the launch year of 2011 comprises a diverse programme of events bringing together internationally acclaimed academics, business leaders, politicians, artists, and relevant trade bodies and institutions to present, debate and solve the challenges posed by the pursuit of sustainability.
Professor Younger adds, “While the University’s programme of events lies at the heart of this launch year for the theme, the sustainability challenge will remain a focus for years to come, as an issue around which the University will marshal its people and assets, putting the full force of the institution behind finding solutions to some very real challenges in feeding, watering and sheltering the world without destroying nature in the process”.

High-profile campaign
To support the aims of the societal challenge theme, a high-profile PR and public affairs campaign is in full-swing. The aim of the campaign, working with key partners such as Newcastle City Council, is to position the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, internationally, as an ‘urban laboratory’ for sustainability, leading the transformation of one of the world’s oldest industrial cities into one of the world’s most sustainable cities.

As the global birthplace of the industrial use of fossil fuels, the very name ‘Newcastle’ was adopted by many other towns and cities around the globe that played instrumental roles in driving their countries’ industrial revolutions.

All of the world’s old industrial cities face similar challenges if they are to evolve to be more sustainable. Key to the campaign will be the ability of the University and its partners to engage other ‘Newcastles’ around the world in the campaign, by encouraging them to get involved in the quest to become the most sustainable cities that they can possibly be.
The campaign aims to deliver a number of measurable outputs. They include:
»  Encouraging policymakers to reform the regulatory framework so that the real costs of carbon, water and other limited resources are priced into goods and services in order to ensure that the power of the market starts driving sustainable solutions.
»  Promoting a change in attitudes, encouraging us all to re-assess the impact of how we use and manage resources for the future.

Focus on estates
Part of building the University’s reputation as a world leader in sustainability is a continuing focus on improvements to sustainable practices within its own estates.
The University has identified and instituted a programme of objectives, supported at the highest level. A commitment to achieving environmental sustainability is a University level strategic objective set out in the ‘Vision 2021’ document.

The University is now a sector leader in waste management, recycling 93 percent of its waste. A key component of this has been a ’Let’s Recycle More’ communication campaign which includes a building recycling ‘league table’ allowing people to track their recycling success. A composting program that recycles food waste into nutritious compost for the University parks and gardens is another popular aspect of the strategy.

To encourage further behavioural change within the University community, throughout 2010, a Switch Off campaign raised awareness of energy efficiency and encouraged staff to switch off equipment overnight. This initiative contributed to a reduction in electricity consumption on the University campus totalling two percent over two years – reversing the previous trend of an average increase of 2.5 percent per year.

A key focus for the estate team is addressing the issue of underutilised space. Although as a growing enterprise they were building new properties, through demolition, disposals and increased commercial lettings coupled with university growth, a 35 percent reduction in floorspace per student and staff member has been achieved. They demolished 10 underperforming buildings and new buildings conform to stringent environmental standards. BREEAM, the leading environmental assessment method for buildings, has recently rated two new University laboratory buildings as ‘Excellent’.

Westminster event
The campaign is being celebrated in Summer 2011 at a major event in the House of Lords with leading academics, trade bodies, relevant companies, alumni and representatives from ‘Newcastles’ around the world.

The initiative will have international resonance, beginning with a gathering of civic leaders from other ‘Newcastles’ of the world. This will encourage a sharing of ideas and information, showcasing the efforts of all these ‘Newcastles’ to ultimately become leaders in sustainable development.