Scotland's colleges are working together to tackle the Climate Emergency

Tackling the Climate Emergency

As Scotland looks forward to hosting the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, Scottish colleges have come together to support a new and ground-breaking statement of commitment on the Climate Emergency. The 'Scottish Colleges’ Statement of Commitment on the Climate Emergency', which has been produced by CDN’s college Climate Emergency Expert Group, in partnership with Colleges Scotland and Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), highlights how college staff and students are working together to achieve a more sustainable future for Scotland. The statement of commitment establishes 10 key actions, which colleges have committed to delivering, with the aim of speeding up efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

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Climate Emergency Resources

  • Climate Emergency Statement

    Thanks to members of the college Climate Emergency Expert Group, college colleagues and stakeholders who have developed this document. Special thanks to: APUC, EAUC, Dundee and Angus College, and West Lothian College.

    Read Climate Emergency Statement here
  • Tackling the Climate Emergency video

    Thanks to students and staff from South Lanarkshire College, Borders College, Edinburgh College, Dundee & Angus College, Ayrshire College, Teach the Future Scotland, and City of Glasgow College for taking part in making our launch video.

    Watch video
  • Scottish Funding Council video

    Thanks to Mike Cantlay OBE, Chair of the Scottish Funding Council, for providing this video to endorse the 'Scottish Colleges’ Statement of Commitment on the Climate Emergency'.

    Watch video

10 Key Actions

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Support Scotland’s efforts to achieve net-zero climate emissions by 2045 or earlier if possible, with Scotland’s colleges aiming to achieve net-zero by 2040 or earlier.

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Embed environmental sustainability in our institutional strategies and set measurable targets.

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Address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in our strategies.

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Share best practice within and beyond the college/ university sector.

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Deploy our expertise and experience to combat climate change.

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Contribute to public debate on climate change and use the power of our example to encourage others.

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Work with Scottish industry, employers, public sector bodies and others to improve working practices and find practical solutions to climate change and to make our planet safe for future generations.

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Encourage, where appropriate, colleges to adopt the UK HE/ FE Climate Commission's 'Climate Action Roadmap for FE Colleges.'

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Each college will publish action plans to address on-campus and supply chain emissions, setting out what steps they will take over a five-year horizon and beyond where possible, and what they aim to achieve to address the climate emergency.

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Educate staff, students, employers and communities on the impact their daily lives and working practices have on the environment/ climate. While working with our partners, local employers and communities to ensure everyone is aware of their personal responsibility to our planet.

Climate Emergency Statement

Find the full statement here

Read the Climate Emergency Statement here