CUN REPORT V6a.pdf

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 1/40 - The role of HEIs in the climate action a…

The role of HEIs in the climate action agenda

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 2/40 - Contents

Contents

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 3/40 - Civic University Network - a national ne…

Civic University Network - a national network maximising the impact of civic universities in their place

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 4/40 - Executive summary

Executive summary

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 5/40 - � The lack of cross-institutional coordi…

� The lack of cross-institutional coordination between HEIs on the climate action agenda was highlighted as an important gap where action was needed. This was both between HEIs within the same region, and between the HEI sector across the UK in sharing practice or coordinating efforts. Given that achieving net zero is a holistic interdisciplinary challenge, there was a particular opportunity for HEIs to `cluster their strengths by working cross-institution, in order to meet the demand for research, expertise, partnerships and innovation being asked of them by local authorities, businesses and civil society.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 6/40 - Foreword

Foreword

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 7/40 - Introduction

Introduction

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 8/40 - Context: Scoping the civic challenge for…

Context: Scoping the civic challenge for HEIs in transition to net zero

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 9/40 - and diffuse new technologies and create …

and diffuse new technologies and create clusters of economic activity and innovation (DLUHC, 2022). They are also seen as an essential partner for government, as anchor institutions that are central to achieving growth across the country and tackling a range of complex issues locally. The Levelling Up agenda also sets the ambition for the UK to become a "global hub of innovation" and "science superpower" (DLUHC, 2022). Universities are central to this ambition, as places for science, research and innovation, as set out in the R&D Roadmap and Innovation Strategy (BEIS, 2020, BEIS, 2021). Universities might also play an important role in articulating and responding to the causal relationships between the different systems within a place framing.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 10/40 - How will places be affected in transitio…

How will places be affected in transition to net zero and what could a civic approach include?

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 11/40 - It is important to identify alignments a…

It is important to identify alignments and overlaps between the domains of place affected by net zero transition and other existing metrics and measures that universities have adopted or are subject to. The well-known EAUC Sustainability Leadership Scorecard � a jointly-owned resource by The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education and The Association of University Directors of Estates, which maps directly onto UN Sustainable Development Goals � is valuable in supporting HEIs to manage and measure their own progress as institutions towards sustainability, has domains of transport, adaptation and management (which could connect with wider local governance) which align with three of the six domains above. From another perspective, the Civic Impact Framework (Civic University Network, 2020) identifies common and valuable domains by which HEIs can organise and measure their potential contribution to place; these broadly include economic, wellbeing, cultural, social and leadership domains of action.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 12/40 - Our approach

Our approach

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 13/40 - The resulting clusters were identified a…

The resulting clusters were identified as follows:

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 14/40 - Appendix 2 provides the agenda and desig…

Appendix 2 provides the agenda and design of the roundtable discussions in greater depth. Both civic leads and sustainability leads � where both roles existed � from each university were invited to the roundtable, and a breakdown of attendees is provided in Figure 2. Across the four groups there were also staff who were representing or seen as `leading the drive towards engaging with the local area around the agenda of net zero transition � but who did not have a formally acknowledged title or role. This is captured in the table of attendees as `uncategorised.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 15/40 - Role of HEIs in the Climate Action Agend…

Role of HEIs in the Climate Action Agenda

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 16/40 - Local transition challenges across the f…

Local transition challenges across the four place types

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 17/40 - HEIs took varying degrees of leadership

HEIs took varying degrees of leadership

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 18/40 - While all HEIs were coordinating an inte…

While all HEIs were coordinating an internal effort in very different ways, levels of coordination vary significantly. While some universities were coordinating led from estates-related teams to decarbonise their institutional footprint as the primary, others were forming cross-university coalitions for defining and responding to the global or local challenges related to climate action and net zero. Where university leads felt they were working in a limited, performative or disconnected way from other anchor institutions or from each, there was often self-awareness and in some cases frustration.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 19/40 - What are the drivers and motivations for…

What are the drivers and motivations for HEIs to support place transition to net zero?

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 20/40 - the use of facilities including halls of…

the use of facilities including halls of residence and `thinking green when it came to designing research fieldwork, teaching or union-led activities to ensure they were carbon neutral. On a positive note, several sustainability leads also referenced a generous role played by estates and sustainability leads in supporting other large anchor institutions to transform their estate carbon footprint or energy policies founded on their own progress towards being carbon neutral or carbon positive.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 21/40 - strategic plan for the local areas trans…

strategic plan for the local areas transition to net zero. The University of Lancaster shared its experience of when the climate emergency was declared, setting up partnerships with the local authority and establishing targets for carbon neutrality in partnership. The university and local authority held a citizens jury which focused on setting a strategic plan for the region; including goals for the localisation of supply chains; an anchor-based partnership with the local NHS providers around sustainability; and a crossinstitution partnership with other education providers focused on future skills.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 22/40 - City-level working groups were also cite…

City-level working groups were also cited, including the Net Zero City 2035 working group for the city of Bristol, which both University of the West of England, University of Gloucester and University of Bristol were members of. This city-level group coordinated strategic activity to meet the citys 2030 target, including focusing on the development of community climate action plans, and policies for how to support the six most deprived areas of Bristol. A further example was shared by the University of East Anglia, working with a city-level Commission where ten commissioners had been appointed to lead and analyse what Norwich should be advocating for in terms of net zero, and what adaptation was needed at city level.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 23/40 - The most common typologies of practice w…

The most common typologies of practice were between individual academics leading research projects with local stakeholders � particularly businesses and industry representatives; and secondly between HEIs and local anchor institutions around strategic and operational partnerships (such as a working group on how to transform the local health system, or the whole town centre, to a green operating strategy). The least common typology of practice referenced was between HEIs working with other universities, either in convening and coordinating, information sharing, or in active leadership of part of the net zero transition agenda.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 24/40 - a greener, integrated health and social …

a greener, integrated health and social care system. Kings College London noted its partnership working between its Estates Department and the local hospital, which have shared sites or sites next to each other; with the university supporting the Trust to reduce carbon emissions across the hospital and health care sites. The University of Manchester also discussed a partnership along a common `corridor with Manchester Metropolitan University, local NHS bodies and local developers, to collectively `green their infrastructure, operations, supply chains and estates use.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 25/40 - zero. In one example, it was referenced …

zero. In one example, it was referenced that the new clean air zone within Bradford had raised concerns amongst retail departments and sole

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 26/40 - Green curriculums

Green curriculums

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 27/40 - Working with local communities

Working with local communities

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 28/40 - are implemented better meet the needs of…

are implemented better meet the needs of those living in social housing locally.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 29/40 - " Gaps and challenges in existing ways

" Gaps and challenges in existing ways

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 30/40 - 2040 for example). A small number of HEI…

2040 for example). A small number of HEIs also noted the challenge of communicating between different groups of stakeholders when there is no common language, in particular with local authorities where turnover of staff and expertise can be high.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 31/40 - evaluate existing initiatives will certa…

evaluate existing initiatives will certainly leave

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 32/40 - Key findings

Key findings

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 33/40 - 2. The opportunity of green curriculums …

2. The opportunity of green curriculums to local graduate retainment and impact

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 34/40 - 3. The importance of collaboration to le…

3. The importance of collaboration to levelacross local communities in net zero

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 35/40 - Appendix A: Roundtable participants

Appendix A: Roundtable participants

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 36/40 - Appendix B: Specific case studies of HEI…

Appendix B: Specific case studies of HEI practise to support place transition to net zero

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 37/40 - Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Resear…

Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research: universities working in partnership to develop research to inform climate change policy The Tyndall Centre, founded in 2000, is a partnership of universities that brings together researchers across multiple disciplines to develop responses to climate change. They produce independent research to support national and international public policy and identify working solutions and existing knowledge of what works. The centre puts climate action in the context of the Sustainable Development goals, ensuring that climate change research is aligned with other social priorities.

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 38/40 - References

References

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 39/40 - The Institute for Community Studies is p…

The Institute for Community Studies is powered by and part of the not-for-profit organisation, The Young Foundation. Its a new kind of research institute, with people at its heart. The Institute gives increasing weight to the stories, experience and evidence created in communities, supported through its national network of researchers. It provokes direct engagement with business and those influencing change, bridging the gap between communities, evidence and policymaking. For more information, visit www.icstudies.org.uk

CUN REPORT V6a.pdf - page 40/40