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Imperial College Sets Out Long-Term Sustainability Goals
Imperial College London has published a new Sustainability Strategy detailing its roadmap to achieving its sustainability goals and becoming a net zero carbon institution by 2040.
In all, three key aims have been identified, including resource management, which covers water management, energy use, waste reduction, travel, catering, biodiversity and procurement.
It will also prioritise engagement, working closely with students, staff, communities and the wider public, and academic excellence, looking to tackle global challenges through research.
And Imperial has also just announced the launch of Sustainability Week, taking place on February 15th 2021, a series of events focusing on sustainability and climate change issues, while providing opportunities for engagement and debate.
Ian Walmsley, Provost professor, explained that the new Strategy puts the move to zero pollution at the heart of what the college will achieve in the future in research, training and innovation. The focus will also be placed on resources to transform the campus and communities “into a testbed for new ways of working and living”.
Professor Paul Lickiss, academic leader in sustainability, made further comments, saying: “Our vision is to advance our world leading sustainability research and education, and to apply what Imperial excels at to our own activities and to the new challenges facing the world.
“Alongside this we must continue to be a vocal, visible advocate for technology and policy for sustainability, and a solutions-provider to businesses.”
Businesses keen to take similar action to boost their green credentials in the future may find one of the most effective ways to make a significant impact immediately to be focusing on their own water stewardship and how they manage certain resources.
Being aware of how you use water across your site can help you make all sorts of changes that will have a positive impact on the environment, changes that will also have the knock-on effect of reducing your water bills, at the same time.
Balancing your water needs with those of the environment and your local community will help you understand the risks associated with water usage and consumption, so you’re better able to bring in the most appropriate strategies to minimise the risks and make sure your operations are sustainable now and well into the future.
It also involves making a commitment to managing shared water sources sustainably, working alongside local communities, other businesses, governments and non-government organisations.
A good first step is to gain a deeper understanding of how you use water and the dependencies that you have on this resource right across your entire supply chain. Once you’re armed with this knowledge, you can then take action to address the issue, implementing plans and targets to ensure the more sustainable use of water.
If you’d like any further help or advice, get in touch with H2O Building Services today