The Climate and Ecological Emergency | University of Essex

Skip to content

I'm looking for...

Courses Research People Something else

Prefer to see our subject areas?

Browse courses by subject

Looking for funded postgraduate opportunities?

View doctoral training partnerships Browse postgraduate research opportunities

We are different and we are the same. #WeAreEssex

Looking for student or staff information?

Student Directory Staff Directory

Courses

Prefer to see our subject areas?

Browse courses by subject

Research

Looking for funded postgraduate opportunities?

View doctoral training partnerships Browse postgraduate research opportunities

People

We are different and we are the same. #WeAreEssex

Something else

Looking for student or staff information?

Student Directory Staff Directory

The need for urgent action

On 9 December 2020, the University of Essex joined many organisations around the world in declaring a climate and ecological emergency.

Our declaration recognises the impact we have on the local, national and global environment and the need:

to understand better how to reduce our environmental impact, support biodiversity and achieve net zero emissions
to listen to voices from across our community, so as to arrive at a plan that has widespread support

We will be looking again at everything we do, in the context of the climate and ecological emergency.

Make your voice heard

What can we, as the University community, do to tackle the climate and ecological emergency?

Our Climate and Ecological Emergency blogs include expert Q&As and opinion pieces.

We want to hear your thoughts. Email us at any time at sustainability@essex.ac.uk.

Our declaration

"As a University community, we acknowledge the considerable impact that our activities have on the local, national and global environment, and that we have a responsibility to act decisively."

- Our declaration of a climate and ecological emergency

Our commitments

Working together as a University community to take actions to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
Working towards reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2035, with an accompanying Carbon Management Plan.
Creating the University’s most ambitious Sustainability Sub-Strategy to date and putting in place an action plan setting out how we will achieve our objectives.

Next steps

Deliver the objectives in the Sustainability Sub-Strategy and Climate Action Plan 2021-28 (.pdf).

“We felt passionately that we should only make this declaration when we had something to back it up. We have clear next steps on our journey to reduce our environmental impact and to reach net zero carbon emissions. I would urge everyone to get involved and share their thoughts.”

Rob Davey Head of Sustainability and Grounds

Why is the University acting now?

In recent years, we have made real progress on sustainability. It has become clear, though, that more decisive action is required. The new Sustainability Sub-Strategy (SSS) and Climate Action Plan 2021-26 will guide the University's approach for years to come, providing the opportunity to deliver a step change in our approach.

“The climate is in crisis. As an institution, we have a significant impact on the environment and we need to be taking steps to make a difference. I hope all sections of our community will join this conversation and share their expertise.”

Daisy Malt Sustainability (Environment and Recycling) Manager

A clear case for action

There is clear scientific evidence that anthropogenic climate change is now a reality. The global temperature has already increased by +1oC since pre-industrial levels, when carbon in the atmosphere was at 280 ppm (parts per million). Today, carbon concentrations are 413 ppm, and rising at approximately +2ppm per year. It is widely accepted that a safe operating space for humanity is 350 ppm (the levels passed in 1990). International policies (particularly the 2016 Paris Agreement) are seeking to limit increases in global temperature by a further +0.5 to +1.0oC.

It is vital that the University plays a leading role in delivering net zero emissions. This is not a threat, but an opportunity to deliver excellence in education and research in novel and effective ways.

Header image - Climate Emergency: Forest Fires in Siberia, photograph © Julia Petrenko / Greenpeace.

What it's like to live at Essex

Find your new home

Come see for yourself