Image: Chay Quinn
The issue of climate change and sustainability is greatly important in 2021 and through speaking to University of York societies linked to the environment, the desire for an environmentally centred manifesto from every YUSU candidate is evident.
The Environment and Ethics Officer position does hold a primary responsibility surrounding sustainability within campus, however, a common theme that emerged through speaking to climate orientated societies was the need for every YUSU candidate to involve these policies in their manifestos. The University of York Green Party reflected this, believing that “each officer should do all they can to be as sustainable as they can”.
The Environment and Ethics Officer holds a crucial role for ensuring campus is as sustainable as possible. York Students for Climate Change emphasise the importance of the role as “a voice for students, communicating the levels of anxiety many students have about the climate crisis”.
The key policies desired from the Environment and Ethics Officer by the societies I spoke to were:
- The continuation of accessible and ethical food options on campus
- Reducing the amount of single use plastic on campus by providing sustainable alternatives.
- Increasing the energy efficiency of campus.
- Reducing waste produced on campus.
- Sustainable transport policy, such as the creation of cycle lanes in and around campus.
- Striving for the University of York to achieve net zero carbon by 2030.
These policies need the support and assistance of all the YUSU officers and the University to be achieved. The overall consensus from the societies was that the Environment and Ethics Officer should not hold the single responsibility to implement environmental policies. There’s a demand for each officer to consider sustainability when making every decision.
With the emergence of a wide variety of climate centered societies and movements, such as York Students for Climate Change and People and Planet, it is evident that there’s a student demand for sustainability on campus. There’s also a real need for environmentally friendly practices to assist in weakening the effects of climate change.
Therefore, there’s a shared belief that the new YUSU officers should consider the environment as a priority, and I think it is essential that they make it a key aspect of their role.