Raising the Green Standard: Evaluating the University of St Andrews’ Sustainability Measures
December 2023
Authors: Francis Villarin, Birte Müller, Claire Waskow, Larisa Badawi, Jasmine Fong
Edited by Nina Harbison
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Amid the escalating climate crisis, universities are compelled to incorporate sustainability into their strategies. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the sustainability initiatives at the University of St Andrews through a comparative analysis, contrasting these measures with those implemented at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow.
By selecting greenspace and conservative actions, carbon emissions and energy, and recycling as our primary focus areas for comprehensive evaluation of the strategies employed by the mentioned universities, it becomes evident that while the University of St Andrews aligns with its Scottish counterparts in achieving carbon neutrality and expanding recyclable items, there is room for improvement in the greenspace and conservation actions domain. Notably, wildlife conservation efforts appear limited in scale and number, indicating an area that requires further attention and enhancement.
To redress such issue and further enhance its initiatives as a whole, we outline three recommendations for raising the green standards at St Andrews:
1.Despite the commitment to net-zero goals, the current green policy relies on smaller-scale initiatives with limited digital analysis. Introducing tools like mobile apps and data monitors provides a transformative avenue for sustainability engagement.
2.Adopting a comprehensive, long-term, and multidimensional approach is crucial. St Andrews should find a balance between crafting a comprehensive vision and channeling focused efforts, particularly in carbon emission management, which ensures commitment to long-term sustainability while providing flexibility for exploring new avenues within a targeted framework.
3. The university should prioritize enhanced collaboration and communication. Despite ongoing campaigns, persisting challenges, like lower-than-expected recycling rates, necessitate attention. Bridging the attitude-behaviour gap is vital, and collaboration with student societies and local organizations, especially entities like Transition, can foster cross-level cooperation.