Making academia environmentally sustainable: a student perspective

Universities have an important role in the fight against climate change. Academic staff contribute to identification and development of effective solutions through theoretical applied research, technological innovation, education for future generations. Yet, we argue that a university's should not be confined these aspects. Academia has social responsibility practise what it advocates: becoming model sustainability agent change, meeting demands today's society, including its students. This is even more prominent public health institutions considering substantial costs Regrettably, most cases, sustainable transformation universities sufficient mitigate their own environmental impact, gap students members often work voluntarily fill. Here, give students’ perspective on consider unjust burden members, missed opportunity university directors make leaders transformation, lay out broad framework co-operative, sustained, transformation. Students are increasingly demanding prospective or current environmentally sustainable. In 2020 international survey by Organizing Sustainability International, 92% respondents believed something actively promoting addressing.1Students InternationalStudents, education: results from higher around world.https://sos.earth/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SOS-International-Sustainability-in-Education-International-Survey-Report_FINAL.pdfDate: February, 2021Date accessed: August 20, 2021Google Scholar UK, between 2019 2020, 50% 6000 surveyed considered commitment issues factor when choosing place study.210 years research sustainability. organising sustainability.https://www.sos-uk.org/post/10-years-of-research-on-education-and-sustainabilityDate: 2020Date May Similarly, 14 093 US college applicants parents 2021, 75% indicated institutional would affect choice college; 10% increase 2020.32021 hopes & worries survey. The Princeton Review.https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/college-hopes-worriesDate: addition moral action, data suggest potential direct competitive financial benefit. student universities’ actions so far been partially filled movements led members.4Shawe R Horan W Moles O'Regan B Mapping policies initiatives institutes.Environ Sci Policy. 2019; 99: 80-88Crossref Scopus (17) Google These collectives shown strong powerful agents with some remarkable success stories, such as fossil fuels divestment campaign People Planet.5Universities committed pursuing fuel divestmentPeople Planet.https://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free-victoriesDate: However, efforts face several challenges (appendix pp 1–2). First, absence cohesive strategy redundant, do capitalise cobenefits concurrent actions, and, worst can counterproductive. Furthermore, many less inclined participate if they supported sufficiently administration. Second, sustained managerial support high turnover volunteers might lead projects being discontinued unable fulfil maximum potential, especially focused long-term changes. Most importantly, this approach staff, who carry disproportionate improving changing impact own. Such likely effect productivity mental health6Zoer I Ruitenburg MM Botje D Frings-Dresen MH Sluiter JK associations psychosocial workload complaints different age groups.Ergonomics. 2011; 54: 943-952Crossref PubMed (24) because diverts them studies duties, potentially having longstanding detrimental career success. A 2018–19 UK National Union 566 higher-education identified paucity resources capacity (40% respondents), prioritisation other goals (37%), shortfall (32%) leading barriers sustainability.7The Alliance Leadership EducationNational StudentsUniversity College UnionAssociation Collegesthe Development NetworkSustainability 2018-19.https://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/sustainability_in_education_report_2018Date: March, 2019Date 24, kind collective action problem also affected transition sectors.8Ostrom E multi-scale coping change problems.Solutions. 2010; 1: 27-36Google We propose all develop centralised, institution-level frameworks remove accountability leadership, while still encouraging involvement publish strategic plan, which states defines stand, roadmap show time-bound objectives pathways achieving objectives. better understanding needs, barriers, underlying transformative towards needed. Surveys, monitoring, evaluation encompassing both quantitative qualitative assessments useful means improve practices inform actions. Third, transparency must ensured throughout entire process guarantee promote knowledge sharing. Staff right understand how investing directly indirectly contribute. information made publicly available students4Shawe well external audits. Finally, above receive university. little dedicated teams offices—a minimum requirement—is accepted best practice universities.4Shawe where exist improvements practices—eg, King's London University Brighton. For years, avoiding undergoing leaving staff. unfair, inefficient restricted financial, managerial, organisational received, crucial planning, support, monitoring evaluation, transfer, key ensuring successful collaborative involved without bearing unreasonable burden, reside directors. declare no competing interests. Download .pdf (.6 MB) Help pdf files Supplementary appendix