A statement from the former Vice Chancellor, Professor Karen Cox
"We fully acknowledge the climate and ecological crisis
facing the planet and strongly support Canterbury City Council’s
recent declaration. As an institution that researches and teaches about the
causes and effects of global environmental change, we are strongly
aware that our staff and students have a combined responsibility –
both as a leading exemplar of what must be achieved and as a wider advocate for
sustainability – to enable the radical societal changes needed
to mitigate the causes of global heating.
‘We are determined to harness the unique strengths we
offer as a university in tackling the crisis, bringing together combined
expertise across our education, research and wider functions. We are
currently preparing an ambitious sustainability strategy informed by research
from the School of Anthropology and Conservation that will enable us to set
clear targets to reduce emissions, along with tangible steps to get us there.
Alongside this, we will play a lead role in the wider movement to
tackle the crisis, by contributing to the collective knowledge base and
through our impact across society."
Net Zero by 2040
The
University of Kent has adopted a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by
2040. The Sustainability Team and Estates Department are currently working on
an exciting energy partnership with Siemens and developing a new carbon
management plan to support this and that is fit for the future. While this is
being produced we have published an interim statement which sets out our
targets, baselines, responsibilities and governance structures to support our
emissions reduction.
Climate change is intrinsically linked to public health, food and water security, migration, peace, and security. It is a moral issue. It is an issue of social justice, human rights and fundamental ethics.
