The University has been recognised for the role of its academic research and sustainability strategy in driving a zero-carbon future.
Date: 12 July 2021
London Met has been featured in the COP26 Universities Network with academic researchers and its sustainability initiatives highlighted for their role in driving a zero-carbon future.
The Network is a growing group of over 80 UK-based universities and research centres working together to raise ambition for tangible outcomes from the UN COP26 Climate Change Conference. The Conference, set to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021, will bring nations together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Network will create lasting partnerships and legacies that reach beyond this single event. It aims to ensure that the UK academic sector plays its role in delivering a successful COP26, getting all members to commit to delivering a zero-carbon, resilient world. It aims to do this by easing access to evidence and academic expertise for COP26 for governments and NGOS, and by taking action in their own communities.
Two London Met academics, Sian Moxon and George Fereday from the School of Art, Architecture and Design, are featured within the Network. Associate Teaching Professor Fereday is part of the Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement and works on projects exploring how natural materials can drive innovation for the built environment, the use of domestically-sourced timber in construction, and teaches sustainability through making.
Moxon’s research within the Centre for Urban and Built Ecologies concerns biodiversity in the urban environment, exploring urban rewilding as a means to address biodiversity and greenspace decline, while promoting sustainable redevelopment of cities. It is practice-based, using design-research methodologies to develop and communicate visions for biodiverse cities - and incite community action to effect change.
London Met’s sustainability strategy was also highlighted by the Network. The University has been widely recognised for its sustainability improvements over the past few years and the University has won numerous awards for its environmental performance. From being announced as the best university for carbon reduction in 2015 and 2017, to winning the Green Apple Awards 2018 and Camden and Islington Sustainability Awards in 2019, the University is always continually improving its sustainability efforts and looking for new ways to save energy to help the environment.
The University's environmental initiatives have included installing two beehives on the roof of its Holloway Road campus, and introducing the Green Impact programme to staff at London Met, developing roof gardens as well as installing 3,170 LED lights across the campus and installing 221 solar panels on the roof.
By developing new initiatives and continuous collaborative work between students, staff and key stakeholders London Met has reduced its carbon footprint by 78% from 2019-20.
The University is setting new and ambitious targets to reduce our impact on the environment even further by developing a new Carbon and Environment Management Plan.
