The Social Policy Green team members of the 2021/22 cohort came from diverse and interdisciplinary backgrounds with various experiences in environmental and sustainability work and advocacy.
Initiatives
Speaker Series
They organised a fantastic and insightful speaker series to educate and debate issues!
- A Climate of Crisis: Human Rights and The Renewable Energy Transition, brought together panellists from academia, activist organisations, and think tanks for an important conversation that focused on the intersections of renewable energy, environmental justice and human rights in order to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the human rights impacts of current transition pathways to renewable energy and a low-carbon economy. This event was in collaboration with The Beacon Journal.
- Climate Displacement and Migration: Challenges, Politics and Solutions, hosted by The Department of Social Policy's Green Impact Team and Earth Refuge was uniquely structured to provide a more holistic and solutions-focused understanding of the problem of climate-driven migration and displacement. The webinar provided a nuanced introductory understanding of the issue of hand by drawing upon the expertise of 3 specialists working across various sectors who explored the policy landscape, surrounding debates, the legal aspect of climate-driven migration, colonial legacies, and just transitions. In addition, a similarly cross-sectoral panel of experts discussed potential solutions, frameworks, and case studies. .
- Harnessing Renewable Wind Energy: COP26 Commitments and the Energy Crisis, brought together a panel that explored the potential and socio-economic benefits of wind energy amidst the rising energy crisis, with speakers MP Alan Brown and Professor Ian Gough.
Community Events
The team have also championed sustainability in the Department and at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ through community-building sustainability projects. To setting up a ‘Green Shelf’ in the Department, so that books on relatable subjects can be borrowed and books can be added on a donation basis to highlight relevant reading material.
They have also worked collaboratively to organise a clothes swap following a successful clothes donation drive to promote sustainable action amongst students and promoting the reusing of materials.
Course Proposal
They have also highlighted the importance of having an Environment themed course/focus within the department to tackle the intersection of climate change, environmental issues and social policy, and worked on a draft course proposal, which will feed into the potential course planning within the Department for future student groups.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Celebration of Sustainabilty
Their work met many of the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Sustainability Strategic Plan themes from Education, Engagement, to Collaboration, and they were recognised for their work in the , winning a Green Impact Sustainability Heroes Award for all of the amazing work that they have done this year to bring about positive environmental impact!
” They have been champions in raising awareness of sustainability issues throughout the year, from organising events and think-tanks on climate change themes and promoting sustainable action amongst fellow students.”