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A package of measures aimed at improving sustainability at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has been presented as the final act of the COP29 events programme on campus.

The 29 for 29 initiative (29 sustainability ideas to coincide with COP29) was part of the official launch of a programme of more than 20 events aimed at highlighting the need for climate action while world leaders were meeting at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

More than 150 ideas were submitted by students and staff and 29 of those have been selected for investigation and evaluation with the hope that they can be implemented across the campus.

Dan Kirk (staff) and Philomena Osagie (student) were both presented with £50 vouchers at the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Climate Awards on Friday night for the best ideas submitted.

“This was the highest number of sustainability ideas that we have ever had in the four years we have been running this type of initiative”, said Dr Mark Charlton, Associate Director of the SDG Impact Hub.

“It shows the level of engagement students and staff had during COP29 and the commitment across the university towards sustainability.

“There was a wide variety of events across the campus throughout the two weeks of COP29, with events often being at full capacity. I would like to thank all those who took part. It shows staff and students really want to make a difference and have a voice on climate action.”

The programme of events included students working to remove plastics and other debris from the city’s canal and river banks; the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Climate Awards which honoured students and staff going the extra mile for sustainability; Pizza for the Planet that saw students debating sustainability while enjoying a meal; and a series of panel events involving academics, students, and the community.

The full list of 29 for 29 ideas…

FOOD

1. All internal catering ordered by faculties/departments should be at least vegetarian, preferably vegan.
2. Meat-free days in the Food Village.
3. Discounted food and drink prices in the Food Village for customers bringing their own reusable cups and containers for takeaways.
4. Dispensers for soft drinks to avoid sale of plastic bottles.
5. Edible ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ project to support all forms of sustainable food on campus and in the community.
6. Food growing project in raised beds on the rooftop garden of the Vijay Patel Building and outside the Food Village. Raised beds would also make the project more accessible to students in a wheelchair.

ENVIRONMENT/BIODIVERSITY

7. Create a tiny forest of 600 trees on campus to increase and support natural habitats plus identify an area on campus to plant an orchard.
8. Create a sustainable demonstration garden on campus to highlight good gardening practices.
9. Make and erect nesting boxes on campus to increase biodiversity.
10. Student bulb planting days across campus to encourage bee and butterfly population.
11. Become a ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ bee walker to help monitor, identify and count the number of bees on campus.
12. Create more no-mow areas and flower meadows across campus to improve biodiversity.

CUTTING WASTE

13. Creating incentives and workshops for students to participate in waste management, recycling and compost to cut waste in halls and student housing.
14. Food-waste digestors to generate compost in ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ food outlets to cut waste.
15. Swop shop on campus for second-hand clothes that is free to use.
16. Bag drop centres so students can pick up and drop off bags for shopping without buying new plastic ones.
17. Upcycling and repair workshops for students to prevent waste and move away from a ‘throwaway’ society.

ENERGY

18. Energy conservation competitions to encourage competition between faculties/departments/halls of residence in cutting energy use.
19. Investigate special flooring, as used in airports, that helps generate electricity through footfall.
20. Disconnect all digital equipment at the end of the day to cut energy use.

TRANSPORT

21. More electric vehicle charging points on campus.
22. Waive the staff parking charge for those with electric vehicles.
23. No option of air travel for staff when a viable alternative is available and practical, with a commitment to reduce air travel by university staff by 50 per cent.
24. Establish cycling and walking clubs to promote non-car commuting to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ.
25. Default on website for getting to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Leicester campus should prioritise sustainable travel and NOT driving and car parking.

GENERAL

26. Higher visibility for sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals across campus.
27. More promotion of the university’s record on sustainability and the UN SDGs at Open Days.
28. More signage on campus and in halls of residence to encourage all forms of sustainability – recycling, cutting waste, cycling, walking, use of public transport.
29. Environmental arts project that creates sculptures out of recycled materials to help promote sustainability.