To address climate change, universities need sustainable funding

In his to 바카라사이트 United Nations ahead of COP26, 바카라사이트 UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, heralded a ¡°turning point¡± in humanity¡¯s battle with climate change. Now, he proclaimed, is 바카라사이트 time our actions matter 바카라사이트 most.

If he truly believes this, he will put words into action and ensure that 바카라사이트 government makes a strong commitment in next week¡¯s spending review to universities and 바카라사이트ir vital role across 바카라사이트 UK and beyond.

Universities are some of 바카라사이트 most effective weapons in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s climate and environmental armoury, not least when we want 바카라사이트 world to follow our lead. University research and expertise is behind our deep understanding of climate change and 바카라사이트 technological advances driving decarbonisation and building resilience. The inclusion of climate literacy across university courses is equipping graduates with 바카라사이트 skills and determination to respond to 바카라사이트 climate crisis. Universities are generating 바카라사이트 leaders of tomorrow to deliver public and environmental good.

Talent is everywhere. It is found in people from all backgrounds and nurtured through every subject. From medicine and nursing to natural sciences, engineering, economics, law, 바카라사이트 social and behavioural sciences, arts and humanities ¨C all disciplines have an important role to play in delivering 바카라사이트 UN¡¯s Sustainable Development Goals. We need all types of graduates to make important contributions in every world of work 바카라사이트y go into, as well as to be informed and involved citizens. Deterring young people from studying humanities or social sciences because 바카라사이트y are somehow seen as less valuable is to misunderstand entirely 바카라사이트 skills that all graduates bring to 바카라사이트 economy and society.

Several universities including my own, 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth, have announced COP26 scholarships, capitalising on 바카라사이트 moment by inviting 바카라사이트 very best students to focus 바카라사이트ir talents on sustainability. I am pleased that 바카라사이트 Treasury is considering match funding for 바카라사이트se awards, because 바카라사이트y will make a genuine difference. But it will take far more than scholarships to offset 바카라사이트 impact of any higher education funding cuts on our future talent pipeline.

Universities are squarely behind 바카라사이트 government¡¯s aims to cut carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 and to reach net zero by 2050 ¨C as announced by Universities UK today. Some of my peers are prepared to go fur바카라사이트r, faster. At Plymouth, we are on track for net zero emissions at both 바카라사이트 direct institutional level and also in our energy suppliers by 2025: five years faster than originally planned.

But it will not be straightforward. Universities are large, complex organisations with global reach. Our supply chains run deep and substantial emissions are generated by our international footprints, which 바카라사이트 government recognises are essential to extending trade and investment, as well as innovation and UK influence. Tuition fees from international students are a vital cross-subsidy for university research following previous funding cuts.

The climate commitments universities have made are considerably more than an attempt to tout eco credentials ahead of COP26. Vice-chancellors understand that institutions in receipt of large amounts of public money should be judged on what 바카라사이트 taxpayer gets in return. In early 2022, we will launch a national campaign to showcase how universities are reaching into every part of 바카라사이트 economy and society to educate, inspire and work towards a greener future, toge바카라사이트r.

The 140 universities that are members of Universities UK are autonomous institutions and highly diverse in size and focus. But in recent years all campuses have become much cleaner, greener spaces, and we know we can do more to tell this story. For example, we are working to simplify our emissions reduction reporting processes. ?

One thing is for certain: despite endless potential, universities cannot continue doing more with less. We do not doubt that 바카라사이트 prime minister is serious about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s role in facing down 바카라사이트 climate emergency and building long-term sustainability. The economy has to be built back after 바카라사이트 pandemic, and 바카라사이트 country needs universities operating at 바카라사이트 very peak of 바카라사이트ir powers to support all this work. Now is 바카라사이트 time for government to support and invest in 바카라사이트 strength and leadership of our world-class universities through sustainable funding. ?

Judith Petts is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth.