NTU Sustainability Summit 2021

Coordinated by the Sustainability Team, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Nottingham Trent Students Union jointly hosted the NTU Sustainability Summit 2021 for NTU students, as part of our Campaign for COP26.

The conference enabled students to share ideas and discuss practical ways to effect change and take action at their universities and organisations. Attendees learned about COP26’s importance and initiatives in the local area and beyond, whilst focusing on the practical actions we can all take to 'think globally and act locally.

75 students from a range of schools across NTU attended on the day along with 5 guest students from Nottingham High School.

The day opened with NTU Chief Operating Officer, Steve Denton, introducing NTU's Net Zero Carbon Roadmap, followed by talks from Head of Sustainability Charmaine Morrell and Dr Heather Alberro on the UN's Climate Change Conference COP26, its initiatives, history and current politics.

Charmaine Morrell and Conor Naughton, President of Nottingham Trent Students Union, went on to discuss the partnership between the university and the Students' Union on sustainable projects such as Fairtrade, Enterprise Week and Recycle League.

The day included themed workshops hosted by the Sustainability Team on topics such as the climate emergency, biodiversity and fast fashion. There was also a panel consisting of local organisation representatives who gave insight into their work towards sustainability across the city. The panel, Chaired by Richard Bull, included Grace Walker from White Rose Nottingham, Erin McDaid from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust,  Becky Valentine from Spenbeck and Philip Ball from NTU waste contractors Enva.

At the end of the day students submitted pledges answering the questions  "What do you want to see from COP26?"  "What change do you want to see at NTU?"  and "What changes are you going to yourself?".

A vegan lunch and vegan snacks, organised by NTU catering, were provided during the day to attendees. The event was hosted at the NTU Conference Centre, provided by NTU Events and Conferencing.