LSE's Centre Building was built with sustainability at its core
LSE has joined over twenty other universities and higher education institutions in signing the London Higher Sustainability Pledge this week.
Under the pledge, institutions commit to working collaboratively across the capital to reduce the individual and cumulative impact of the higher education sector on the environment.
The pledge will see LSE provide data for a series of shared impact measures; collaborate and share practice for the betterment of London and the wider community; share our sustainability strategy with the London Higher network so that we can learn from other institutions; and participate on pan-London initiatives and activities in order to drive collective change.
LSE’s commitment to the Sustainability Pledge follows the news last month that the School was ranked second in the world in the “sustainable institutions” category in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2023.
Commenting, Director of Estates at LSE, Julian Robinson said: “While we already work hard to be a sustainable university through our research output, carbon reduction plans, engagement opportunities and more, we recognise that sustainability is an ever-moving target. We must continue moving towards this target so that we meet the needs of today’s LSE community, and those to come. We have the unique opportunity, and therefore responsibility, to lead in our approach to sustainability.
“We hope the pledge will allow us to share the great sustainability work that is already happening campus-wide (and beyond) at LSE, whilst also giving us the opportunity to learn and reflect on where we could improve things in order to collectively rise to meet the challenges posed by a changing and fragile climate.”
London Higher is the membership organisation for universities and higher education colleges across the capital. As the largest representative body of its kind in England, London Higher represents the full diversity of the capital’s higher vibrant education sector, from small, specialist conservatoires and research institutes to large, multi-faculty universities.
Dr Sally Burtonshaw, Head of Policy at London Higher said: “The London Higher sustainability pledge has been developed to drive collective change around climate action, whilst also acknowledging the diversity of our membership and ensuring all institutions can come together to create pan-London impacts. The pledge provides us with a clear foundation upon which London HEIs can build their commitment to sustainability work and support our London Higher members to embed sustainability across their day-to-day operations.”
Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, London said: “It’s exciting news that some of the capital’s biggest organisations have now pledged to work together to support London’s ambitious net zero targets. Now is the time to deliver on the estate decarbonisation efforts that will save on bills, decarbonise our capital and ensure a trained workforce in green construction.”