Taking place from 14 - 20 November 2022, Green Week invites students, staff and the public to reflect and take action to tackle climate change for good. Across the week, we’ll be hosting a series of engaging and insightful events and workshops focused on sustainable behaviour change and climate action, aligning with the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).
We'll be encouraging our students, colleagues and friends to deepen their understanding of the current climate crisis, and find out how the crisis relates to other critical challenges in society. We’ll also be asking the NTU community to consider how we can work together to create local solutions to some of these pressing global challenges.
Events and Activities
There are a host of events, workshops, actions and lectures for students, staff and the public to get involved in. Browse our events here:
Activities
| Date and Time | Event | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|
| 14 - 16 November | Sustainability Fairs City - Central Court, Newton. Monday 14th. 11am-3pm From student societies to wildlife charities to local vegan and zero waste shops, come and meet a range of groups who contribute to sustainability in a range of ways. We'll also have e-bikes to have a go on and sustainability themed games. | Drop-in |
| 14 and 15 November | NTU Energy Savers - Scavenger Hunt City Campus- Meet at Newton Main Entrance. Monday 14. 5-6pm. Team up and take our checklist across campuses for an energy waste scavenger hunt. You'll be tasked with recording lights left on, devices plugged in unused and any other costly power losses. | |
| Tuesday 15 November 12pm - 2pm | Cycling Safety Workshop Location: NTU city campus bike hub (behind NTSU building) | Drop-in |
| Wednesday 16 Novemeber 11-12pm | Wildlife Walk Location: Clifton Campus. Meet at Allotment. Join the Global Lounge as they take you on a walk around our Clifton campus nature trail. Enjoy some time outdoors taking in nature and boosting your wellbeing. Follow our information boards to see how we enhance nature and support biodiversity across the campus. | Drop-in |
| Wednesday 16 November 1pm - 3pm | Allotment Gardening and Seed Bomb Making Location: Clifton Campus foodshare allotment Our weekly session at the Clifton allotment - join us for some time outdoors, learn some gardening skills and take home your own handmade seed bombs! Open to all staff and students. You can find the Foodshare Allotment behind the Peverell Halls Reception. | Drop-in |
| Wednesday 16 November 3-5pm | Crafternoons with the Global Lounge City Global Lounge, Wednesday 16 November 3 pm – 5 pm, Bug Houses Clifton Global Lounge, Wednesday 3 pm – 5 pm, Lithuanian Crocheting Afternoon: a sustainable crafternoon session, where we will learn how to crochet reusable cup holders. At the same time, our Global Lounge Ambassador who is leading the session will share Lithuanian culture, snacks and music with us. | Drop In |
| Wednesday 16 November 4:30-7pm | Movie Night: Before the Flood. Location: City Global Lounge | Drop In |
| Thursday 17 November 12pm - 2pm | Sustainability Stall Location: Mansfield Campus | Drop-in |
| 17 - 22 November | NTSU Sustainability Discussion Brackenhurst Campus - Thursday 17 November, 4-5pm NTSU are developing our first Sustainability Strategy! Have your say about the operational plans for the students' union, and help to inspire engagement and awareness events/campaigns for future years! | Sign up here |
Talks and Workshops
| Event | Booking link | |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 16 November 12-1pm | Real Action or Just Another COP Out? - Déjà vu and Disenchantment in Global Environmental Politics. Location: Online. Dr Matt Connell will make a short presentation and will then lead a discussion of the issues surrounding the debates at COP 27. The emerging scientific consensus is that the hope, clung to at previous COP summits, of restraining global heating to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is fading fast. Even the target of limiting heating to a 2 degree rise is looking extremely challenging. It will be interesting to see what kind of target is adopted at COP 27, and whether the often hollow rhetoric of commitment and international back-slapping with which COP-watchers are wearily familiar can actually lead to the kind of radical transformations required both by the science and by the ethical imperative towards global climate justice. And if not, then what next? | Sign up here |
| Wednesday 16 November 1-2:30pm | Employer Presentation: Sustainability in IndustryNTU Employability will be joined by experts in sustainability, who will deliver a session explaining how sustainability has grown in importance over the past few years. The experts will introduce themselves and their work in the sector, as well as an introduction the companies they represent and why sustainability is big on their agenda. By attending this session, you will leave with an understanding of sustainability issues, and why sustainability in industry is important. Guest speakers include: Edzard van der Wyck, Director and founder of Sheep Inc https://www.linkedin.com/in/edzard-van-der-wyck-a821012b/Craig Woodburn, Global Head of ESG at Britishvolt https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-woodburn-profile/ (NTU alumni) | Sign up here |
| Thursday 17 November 12-1pm | The Importance of Peatlands for Global Warming. Location: Online
| Sign up here |
| Thursday 17 November 6pm - 7.30pm | Big Hedgehog Friendly Quiz of the Year. | Sign up here. |
Thursday 17 1pm-3pm | COP27 Climate Negotiation Game Join NTU Green Academy and NTU Global Lounge for an exciting 2-hour game to enhance your understanding of the issues being negotiated at COP27. During the session you will play the role of one of the many nations attending COP27 and negotiate the actions your nation will take to address the climate and ecological emergency. Students and staff - everyone welcome. Teaching staff may gain some inspiration for negotiation/role play learning. We will play the game twice during Green week; Thursday at Clifton and Friday in the city. Contact: greenacademy@ntu.ac.uk | Drop in |
Friday 18 3pm-5pm | COP27 Climate Negotiation Game Join NTU Green Academy and NTU Global Lounge for an exciting 2-hour game to enhance your understanding of the issues being negotiated at COP27. During the session you will play the role of one of the many nations attending COP27 and negotiate the actions your nation will take to address the climate and ecological emergency. Students and staff - everyone welcome. Teaching staff may gain some inspiration for negotiation/role play learning. We will play the game twice during Green week; Thursday at Clifton and Friday in the city. Contact: greenacademy@ntu.ac.uk | Drop in |
| Friday 18 November 2pm - 3pm | Sustainability in Business Workshop Location: Online As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022. Consider why sustainability is an essential component of business enterprise and what the Sustainable Development Goals aim to achieve. Hosted by Lucy Yates - NTU's Sustainability Engagement Officer. | Sign up here |
Climate Talks Hosted by Former MP Alan Simpson As global Leaders attend COP27 talks few have any idea how to tackle the twin crises of cascading ‘wild weather’ events and the larger existential threats of climate breakdown that could easily follow. This series of TED talks outlines the new thinking needed to avert the worst outcomes and the refounding of meaningful democracies that must come with it. Hosted at the University of Nottingham in B63 Law and Social Sciences Building. Links with information of each talk are attached.
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Vegan food options
November is world vegan month – first established by the Vegan Society who over the past 78 years have encouraged vegan diets on behalf of animal and environmental rights. Whilst mostly thought of as an animal focused organisation the vegan society work to promote issues including sustainable agriculture, climate change, nutritional guidance and more.
Here at NTU, reducing meat and dairy consumption has been identified as one of the key actions that individuals and organisations can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Which is why each day 50% of our catering offer is 50% vegetarian and a third vegan. We will always promote vegan options first. Try a tasty vegan meal in any of our catering outlets across campus.
Plus why not grab a free vegan lunch during the week at the following Global Lounge events:
15 October 12pm - 2pm | Global Lounge Vegan Lunch - Clifton |
17 November 12pm - 2pm | Global Lounge Vegan Lunch - City |
Take part all month
Climate Literacy and Action Training for Educators, Communities, Organizations and Students
9, 16, 23 & 30 November. Online via Zoom. Register
Would you like to make impact in your professional & social environment? Would you like to influence research, teaching or strategy, reduce carbon emissions & address multiple other SDGs? Join the training to get knowledge and tools!
Sustainability in Practice Certificate
Are you a student or staff member who would like to better understand urgent global sustainability challenges and how we could solve them? The four-session Sustainability in Practice (SiP) module on the NOW learning room can help you get started. Access the module here.
Green Rewards
For NTU Green Rewards, November is all about Energy Saving! Students and staff can sign up to the online platform to take part in a range of power saving activities! Points are on offer for interaction, with individual and team winners earning vouchers for local shops or charities.
NTSU Focus Groups
NTSU are in the process of developing their first Sustainability Strategy! Have your say about the operational plans for the students' union, and help to inspire engagement and awareness events/campaigns for future years! MAX 20 ATTENDEES at each focus group - guarantee your space by signing up here (walk-ins welcome if there's space) https://forms.office.com/r/BzGY5RbXh1
- Brackenhurst Campus - Thursday 17 Nov, 4-5pm @ Brack Bar
- City Campus - Friday 18 Nov, 12-1pm @ Think Tank
- Clifton Campus - Tuesday 22 Nov, 12-1pm @ The Lounge
- Mansfield - Thursday 24 Nov, 12-2pm
- Online - Friday 25 Nov, 4-5pm @ Online
Sustainability at NTU
NTU is one of the most sustainable universities in the world, ranked 4th in the 2021 The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Our Embracing Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon strategy create a culture of sustainable development across the NTU community. From embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals throughout our courses to supporting the NTU community to make sustainable lifestyle choices, we're working together to embed sustainability throughout the university.
Energy Savers - Cut your carbon this winter
NTU is aiming to be Net Zero Carbon by 2040 – this is across all three carbon scopes. As well as reducing our energy use and heating, we also need to reduce emissions from staff and student commuting, business travel and at our halls of residence and SU buildings.
We also know that times are tough. Energy prices are a real concern for many of us and over winter we’re aware that our community might struggle to pay these or face anxiety about their energy use.
With our Energy Savers Campaign, we hope to help you improve your energy knowledge, reduce your energy bills and at the same time support your contributions to a Net Zero NTU and Carbon Neutral Nottingham.
The Climate Crisis- How do you Feel?
We recognise that Eco Anxiety is a real and fast-growing issue, especially amongst young people. The climate crisis described as a “Highway to hell” at the current COP27 conference often leaves us feeling hopeless against environmental damage and displacement already being seen in the global south. Nor do young people feel listened to by those in power- with a recent Unicef survey suggesting 80% of young people feel let down by decision makers.
Let us know how you feel about the current climate crisis and action being taken worldwide and locally. By joining together your feelings we can reflect the current student mindset. Please be respectful of others and their opinions. The idea behind this exercise is to reflect community in those affected by eco-anxiety and magnify the importance of climate action to our staff and students.
Opportunities for Businesses
As part of NTU's Campaign for COP27, we're offering a series of events and opportunities for businesses to equip them to operate in a more sustainable way.
The Sustainability Community Lab
The Sustainability Community Lab
Date and Time: Runs 26 October – 14 December.
This early career development programme for graduates within Nottingham-based SMEs enables businesses to create sustainability advocates within their workforce. The programme is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and tools to elevate the priority of sustainable practices and processes within the work environment. Interested businesses can find out more here.
The Carbon Management Programme
The Carbon Management Programme
Date and Time: 1 - 29 November
This is a series of four practical and interactive workshops that provide Nottingham-based SMEs with the knowledge to measure their carbon emissions, develop carbon management strategies and develop a carbon management action plan. Interested business can find out more here.
Sustainability Research
NTU works around five key research themes that aim to respond to a range of challenges in business, industry, the professions, and society. Our Sustainable Futures theme NTU explores the challenges of creating a world in which resources are used wisely, climate change mitigated through low carbon strategies, circular economy strategies prevent waste, and pollution is minimised.
Green Week Showcase
Two Nottingham Trent University researchers have joined government departments to work with policymakers on addressing some of the major challenges facing the UK.
Rowena Hill, Professor of Disasters and Emergencies at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, will work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on behavioural approaches to climate change
Dr Jacqueline Kirk, Associate Professor in Sustainable Business at Nottingham Business School, will join the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to advise on how behavioural science approaches could be applied to net zero.
Enactus NTU (ENTU) is a student-led charity. They design charity projects around the UN SDGs and bid for funding from Enactus UK (EUK) corporate partners. Their projects range from quality education in deprived areas, to tackling knife crime and sexual harassment. Enactus operate as a business and are supported by training and funding from EUK and their partners, so other than volunteering experience, ENTU offers many employability skills. Members are offered fast-tracking through existing EUK partner opportunities alongside exclusive training and job programmes. Find out more about two of their biggest projects to date: MOSS Club and Bright Greens
Connect with us on social media to keep up to date with the events and activities happening throughout Green Week. Use the hashtag #NTUGreenWeek to join the conversation around climate action.