university of st andrews annual sustainability report 2017 ...€¦ · world-class research in...

Sustainability Report 2017/18

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University of St Andrews Annual


Contents Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Sustainability Development Working Group............................................................................... 3

Climate Change Adaptation ........................................................................................................ 4

Carbon Targets ............................................................................................................................ 4

Utilities management .................................................................................................................. 6

Waste management .................................................................................................................... 7

Environmental management and compliance ............................................................................ 8

Sustainable food .......................................................................................................................... 8

Research at St Andrews ............................................................................................................... 9

Sustainability in the Curriculum .................................................................................................. 9

Engagement and behaviour change .......................................................................................... 11

Travel and transport .................................................................................................................. 13

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 14

Figure 1: St Andrews at night


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Overview This year, the University has continued its excellent performance in sustainability development. This work is now supported not only by our Sustainable Development Strategy 2012 to 2022, and its supporting Carbon Management Plan, but also by the new University of St Andrews Strategy 2018-2023 (published October 2018). This document sets out a suite of priorities and actions for the University for the next five years, many of which are sustainability-focussed, including:

• sustainability as one of six priority areas for collaborative working across disciplines ensuring our students graduate with a clear sense of their environmental responsibilities as global citizens;

• development of our own alternative energy sources to reduce carbon emissions with a view to becoming carbon neutral for our energy;

• vigorous pursuit of a programme of carbon reduction and efficient use of heat and water resources across our estate, and embedding of a culture of deep-seated institutional commitment to sustainable practice and policy.

The University are already well on their way to achieving these goals. Sustainability is already at the heart of many areas of research and teaching. The University undertakes world-class research in (among other areas) fuel cells, batteries, energy and gas storage, photovoltaics, sustainable economies and cultural aspects of sustainability. This year has also seen the re-establishment of SASI (St Andrews Sustainability Institute), a cross-disciplinary research institute dedicated to forging stronger bonds between sustainability researchers across the University. In addition, the University has dedicated Sustainable Development degrees (at both under- and post-graduate levels) as well as aspects of sustainability teaching in most subject areas. The newly formed Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee is working towards a more fulsome representation of sustainability across the curriculum. We generate our own low carbon heat from the Eden Campus Biomass Energy Centre and continue to pursue solar PV and other energy generation options. We have spent almost £4.5M since 2007 through our energy investment fund (Salix). In addition, this year we were awarded £4.98M from the Scottish Government’s University Carbon Reduction Fund to be invested over the next 2 years in a collection of measures including smart controls and sensors as well as more efficient lighting and boiler systems (Smart Campus programme). Governance of these issues is managed by the Sustainability Development Working Group (SDWG). In order to more fully understand how our institution as a whole is performing in sustainability, the SDWG continued this year to carry out and update a sustainability activity mapping exercise. This exercise considers sustainability domains and functionality over environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability in teaching, research and operations. In addition to research, teaching, and changes in our own behaviour and performance, we believe the University also have a responsibility for promoting change in not only our staff


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and student populations but also in the wider community. Transition University of St Andrews (Transition UStA) play a key role in this, supporting upwards of 2,500 students, staff and local residents to reduce their carbon footprints each year. A successful funding application to the Climate Challenge Fund this year brought the total funds raised by Transition UStA to promote low carbon lifestyles within the St Andrews community to over £1.1 million. The sustainability work currently being carried out at St Andrews links closely to many of the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – we have highlighted how our work relates to the appropriate SDGs at the end of each section (text in italics).

Sustainability Development Working Group Governance of sustainability issues is managed by the Sustainability Development Working Group (SDWG), chaired by Quaestor and Factor Derek Watson and attended by representatives from academia, Estates, Procurement, RBS, Student Association, Principals Office and Transition University of St Andrews. The SDWG meet every two months and during 2018 the group progressed and oversaw a wide range of sustainability-related actions and activities, including the development of a brand new biodiversity policy, strategy and action plan (due to be ratified early 2019) and the ratification of updates of various existing policies, including sustainable food and Fairtrade. This year the SDWG have also overseen the re-establishment of SASI, the St Andrews Sustainability Institute (see page 9), and the formation of a Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee and associated Curriculum-based activities (see page 10). The SDWG have continued this year to drive a programme of sustainability activity mapping across the institution. This exercise considers sustainability domains and functionality over environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability in teaching, research and operations. This allows the University to identify its sustainability strengths and weaknesses, and to develop action plans for filling “gaps”. This year the group have continued to designate “owners” to each section of the tool, and these are each being updated in turn (3-4 sections reported at each SDWG meeting). Updates contain measurable targets for the coming 12-18 months and resources required to achieve these. This exercise was carried out using the Future Environments tool and the Sustainability Leadership Scorecard system produced by EAUC / AUDE. The SDWG has addressed the 17th SDG (Partnership for the Goals) and in particular 17.14 (Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development) by establishing and approving sustainability policy at the highest levels of University governance. The SDWG will continue this role within the University, using the EAUC’s Sustainability Leadership Scorecard to monitor and improve the levels of sustainability at the University.


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Climate Change Adaptation In line with our University strategy, work has continued on evaluating the impact of climate change on our organisation. The University have participated in the Adaptation Learning Exchange and developed a case study in partnership with Adaptation Scotland, on our climate adaptation response to date. The SDWG continues to use the Climate Change Assessment Tool (CCAT), to highlight governance and adaptation issues. The University manages the impacts of Climate Change within the University’s Risk Register along with the associated risks. The University has already held Climate Impact Assessment Workshops with key service units and continues to plan for creating a University Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP), and for running climate threat and opportunity process workshops with key stakeholders. In 2018/19 the initial LCLIP and Adaption Plans will be completed. In the past year the CCAT Adaptation score has increased from 67% to 70% due to these actions. By preparing for the effects of climate change on our organisation we are addressing the 13th SDG (Climate Action) and in particular targets 13.1 (Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries) and 13.2 (Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning) although on an institutional scale rather than national.

Carbon Targets Carbon Targets are included within the University’s Carbon Management Strategy and associated Action Plan which has been updated for the period 2018-2023. Targets for SFC Outcome Agreement Aim 7:

3 year period ending

Performance Targets

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21

Gross carbon footprint - tonnes CO2e

30,598 25,854 22,788 21,907 21,055 19,717

These targets show the reduction in carbon due to the full implementation of the biomass district heating scheme, and the proposed investments in our Smart Campus Programme, which is funded by the University Carbon Reduction Fund (UCRF), and our rolling Salix investment fund.


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Measured Carbon Performance 2017/18:

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 (CO2e tonnes)

Gross Emissions

Scope 1

Fossil fuels: Non-residential (tCO2e)

6,498 4,667 3,243

(tonnes CO2e)

Residential (tCO2e) 4,213 3,140 2,445

Fleet Vehicles (tCO2e) 129 132 127

Scope 2

Non Residential Electricity Purchased (tCO2e)

8,636 7,616 6,135

Residential Electricity Purchased (tCO2e)

2,341 2,160 1,709

Non Residential Heat Purchased (tCO2e)

295 348

Residential Heat Purchased (tCO2e)

225 305

Scope 3

Water & Sewerage (tCO2e) 282 319 268

Waste sent to landfill (tCO2e)

320 411 388

Waste recycled (tCO2e) 36 41 42

Non Residential Electricity Transmission

781 712 523

Residential Electricity Transmission

212 202 146

Business Travel (tCO2e) 7,150 5,933 7,109

Total Scope 1 to 3 Emissions (excluding Procurement)

30,598 25,854 22,788

The total carbon footprint for 2017-18 of 22,788 tCO2e is within the target set last year (23,083), and a 12% reduction on the previous year. The largest reduction in carbon is attributed to the increased use of the 6.5MW biomass boiler and energy centre at the Eden Campus in Guardbridge, with its first full calendar year of operation (a four-month increase in operation over the previous reporting year) and the additional of five new buildings to the district heating network.

Figure 2: Biomass plant at Eden Campus


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Savings are also yielded from early LED, pumps and BEMS investments under the UCRF funded Smart Campus programme; with further reductions expected over the next 18 months under the planned tender, award and implementation of this £5m initiative across the wider University campus. By taking extensive measures to reduce the University’s carbon footprint, were are working towards addressing various targets of the 7th SDG (Affordable and Clean Energy). The Guardbridge biomass plant contributes to target 7.2 (By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix) by diversifying the University’s energy mix. The energy efficiency project that have been undertaken using the SALIX fund and the UCRF funding programme has allowed for the University to contribute to target 7.3 (By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency).

Utilities management The University is continually seeking to improve upon its carbon position and has spent circa £4.5M through our energy investment fund (Salix) since 2007, which is delivering lifetime carbon savings of over 75,000 tonnes CO2 across almost 250 individual projects. The University continues to demonstrate its commitment by ensuring that £350-400k of funding is available each year for energy reduction investments; these energy savings are reinvested back into the Salix ‘pot’ to enable continued improvement. The Eden Campus Energy Centre is a significant component of our ambitions for carbon neutrality. The scope of the project includes investment intended to future-proof our capabilities, with large scale installations designed and specified to have a 40 year lifespan, and to open up opportunities for additional carbon savings. This year we have added a number of new buildings onto the network and achieved our first full reporting year of heat delivery. The University has committed to five key objectives for the project that reflect its vision for the development:

• Achieve a ‘step change’ in carbon emissions • Control energy costs and protect against volatility in energy prices • Establish a green supply chain with local economic benefit • Offer a low carbon exemplar and demonstrate the learning journey • Implement the ‘Guardbridge Guarantee’

The University is currently tendering for an energy efficiency framework (NDEE), an ambitious programme of demand-reduction technologies supported by the Smart Campus UCRF funding awarded last year. Implementation is planned in 2018-19.


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Waste management The University is working with St Andrews Environmental Network (StAndEN) to create a single-use disposable plastic free campaign and a litter strategy that will work towards reducing the number of single use items sold in St Andrews, whilst seeking to cut litter and marine waste through measures such as beach cleans and engagement campaigns. We are also working to introduce an improved town and University recycling system that simplifies the current scheme. In the new year, the University will embark on a wider waste strategy, for its campus, staff and students. The aim of this new strategy will aim to challenge how we currently see waste, and move toward a more circular waste economy, with prevention and reuse as top priority over landfill and recycling.

The University is well known for its many unusual student traditions. On Raisin Monday, for example, student dress up in costumes before attending a giant foam fight organised by the Students Association. In an attempt to make such traditions more sustainable, the first Green Raisin competition was launched in 2012 to reward the most creative and environmentally-friendly costume. This year saw the smallest

amount of waste was produced at the event, the majority of items recycled again, including all shaving foam cans, with zero waste to landfill from the event. The University Catering Team are working hard to reduce food waste, with various new schemes currently being implemented, such as tray-free dining and food waste recycling in self-catered halls. A new simplified recycling scheme is also in the process of being introduced to our student residences, which we hope will encourage more students to recycle. The waste management strategy used by the University is addressing the 11th (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 12th (Responsible Consumption and Production) SDGs. The University’s dedication to the sustainable reduction, recycling, and reuse of materials reflects targets 11.6 (By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management) and 12.5 (By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through

Figure 3: Green Raisin costumes for recycling


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prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse).The reduction in food waste in our residential catering is linked to target 12.3 (By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses).

Environmental management and compliance The University has embraced the task of environmental management, and there have been no compliance issues during the year (e.g. no infringements of environmental legislation and no enforcement notices). The University fully complies with the terms of the Zero Waste (Scotland) Regulations which require us to segregate and manage recovery of our food waste.

Sustainable food Updated this year, the University’s Sustainable Food Policy and Action Plan aims to engage with suppliers to enable procurement of more local, fresh food with seasonal menu planning, including actions on resource efficiency e.g. reduced deliveries, packaging and food waste. Amongst other actions, the policy states that we will:

• Work with businesses whose principles and commitments to the environment and sustainability align with our own;

• Work with local businesses wherever possible, and consider the impacts of our growth and activities on the sustainability of businesses in St Andrews, Fife, and further afield.

Residential Business Services (RBS), with help from the University’s Environment Team, achieved a two-star rating (out of three) in the Sustainable Restaurant Award awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. This award is presented in recognition of sustainable practices and processes within the University’s kitchens, focusing specifically on sourcing, society and the environment. The Environment Team continued to spread awareness about the University’s Fairtrade status and 2019 will see Fairtrade linked to the wider Sustainable Food Policy and more product ranges, such as wine and cotton clothing, and support the town Fairtrade group. This year RBS removed plastic water bottles from its packed lunch scheme, and will remove all such bottles from its outlets and events from January 2019. This year saw an increase to 50% of plant-based foods available at catered halls (vegan/ vegetarian).


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The reduction in food waste in our residential catering is linked to target 12.3 (By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses).

Research at St Andrews Research in sustainability-related fields continued apace this year, with numerous high profile publications and awarded grants. Dr David Evans’ (Earth and Environmental Sciences) work on sea temperatures, for example, was published in the high impact academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the results of which could help future modelling of climate change. A team from the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, led by Dr Tom Cowton, published work, also in PNAS, into Greenland’s glaciers which will help bring accurate sea level rise forecasts a step closer, something crucial to preparing for the impacts of climate change. €12.6 million was secured from the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding stream for the ambitious HySeas III project, of which St Andrews is the academic partner in a large EU consortium. This project aims to build and launch the world’s first sea-going car and passenger ferry fuelled by renewably-produced hydrogen, marking a paradigm shift towards entirely emissions-free marine transport. The University of St Andrews has also been awarded £5 million from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for its innovative Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). The funding will support between 60 and 90 new PhD students over the next five years to train in the fields of aquaculture, fisheries management, ecosystem health, biodiversity and pollution control, as well as data management and predictive modelling. St Andrews Sustainability Institute (SASI) was also re-established this year, a cross- disciplinary group headed by new director Dr Darren McCauley, a senior lecturer in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development (SGSD). Due to the departure of key staff, the Institute has been largely inactive in recent year, however, with Dr McCauley at its helm and funding from SGSD secured to progress the Institutes development, we expect to have much more to report on SASI in the 2018/19 report. This research supports SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals) by increasing and sharing knowledge of climate change and mitigation efforts, as well as collaborating with other research partners across the globe.

Sustainability in the Curriculum While sustainability has always been an important part of the St Andrews curriculum, it has largely been discipline-specific and limited to subjects where sustainability is an “obvious” fit, such as geography, biology and sustainable development. As an institution we are now more aware of the need to teach sustainability in its broadest terms across the whole curriculum. This is supported by the new institutional strategy which states we must:


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• ensure our students graduate with a clear sense of their environmental responsibilities as global citizens;

• deliver teaching that…responds to changed needs in…social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.

While our Sustainable Development Strategy 2012 to 2022 contains a teaching and learning section, this has not been fully integrated into the Institutional Learning and Teaching Strategy. Actions are now in place to address this mismatch. In May 2018 the University held its first Sustainability in the Curriculum Symposium, involving 26 academic staff from 18 schools and a number of external speakers. This event was part of a larger project, funded by the Teaching Development Fund 2017/18, aimed at supporting the University’s strategic commitment to sustainability by documenting and highlighting innovative practice in sustainability learning and teaching across the University (see https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/teaching/sustainability/). This event helped secure support from the University Proctor who named Sustainability in the Curriculum as a priority for 2019-20. This has resulted in the formation of a Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee, chaired by the Associate Dean of Arts and Science and attended by Associate Dean of Science, academics, representatives from the Environment Team and Academic Policy Office, the Student Association Director of Education and the Director of Student Development and Activities. This Committee meet every two months to plan and progress actions around Sustainability in the Curriculum including, in the next six months, an updated module survey, two teaching/academic fora, an update to the Teaching and Learning section of the Institutional Sustainable Development Strategy 2012-22 and work to include sustainability as a “tag” on all modules in the course catalogues. A Sustainability Education Network has also been created which is made up of colleagues who are already practising and/or wish to develop a focus on sustainability in their own teaching and assessment. The network organise local sustainability events and help to share good practice as well as help with the mapping and development of sustainability in the curriculum. The actions taken by the University support SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 13 (Climate Action). The University’s dedication to incorporating sustainability into all aspects of education will address targets 13.3 (Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning) and 4.7 (By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development).


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Engagement and behaviour change In addition to research into new solutions, the dissemination of knowledge through teaching, and our own change in behaviours and performance, we believe the University also have a responsibility for promoting behaviour change within our staff and student populations and also in the wider community. We continue to raise awareness of energy, waste minimisation and sustainable travel with our staff training programme, which encourages promotion of positive environmental behaviours within schools and units. We run annual awareness campaigns and inter-hall energy competitions to educate and inspire our students. This year’s inter-hall energy competition, for example, saved an estimated 105 tonnes CO2. In addition, the Environment Team is present at every student fayre, where appropriate, to educate students and promote the sustainability efforts of the University. Transition University of St Andrews (Transition UStA) is part of the University that supports students, staff and local residents in projects and actions to reduce carbon footprints by practical sustainable activities. This year it is estimated that Transition UStA engaged with over 2,500 people at over 250 events across energy, travel, food, economy and behaviour change whilst supporting academic study and institutional change. They also logged over 3,000 volunteer hours. The University funds the Transition UStA manager post which covers project management, funding and staffing and also a project worker that focusses on University programmes including communications, the students goods redistribution project StAndRe-use and energy saving. The University also provide crucial space, line management, training and many other resources. While Transition UStA’s development has been facilitated by the University, support from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund has allowed it to grow and flourish. Transition UStA has been continually funded through successive rounds of this programme and was, at the end of 2017, awarded a further two years funding (~£300k for 2018-2020) in partnership with StAndEN and St Andrews Botanic Garden under the project title “Community Share for Climate Care”. This brings the total funds brought in by Transition UStA to promote low carbon lifestyles within the St Andrews community to more than £1.1 million. This year, the group are also in receipt of funding from Smarter Choices Smarter Places, Cycling Scotland and SESTran (South East of Scotland Transport Partnership) enabling it to bring its staff team up from seven to eight compared with last year (5.2 FTE) and deliver a wide range of infrastructure and services across the University and Town. The excellent work of Edible Campus continued this year, and with 14 growing spaces and 2 community orchards it remains one of the largest campus-based food growing schemes in the country. This year, the focus was on creating a local food network – carrying out growing workshops (basic & masterclass), distribution and re-use of food waste, increasing area and yields of growing spaces, extending growing season with polytunnels and by growing new crops, and demonstrating cooking skills that reduce waste. Between April


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2017 and March 2018, 1,420kg of fruit and vegetables were harvested from the Edible Campus gardens, an increase on previous years. The estimated CO2 saving from the work of Edible Campus during the same period was 4.6 tCO2e. “The Kernel”, a new permanent community use space based within the grounds of the St Andrews Botanic Gardens, continued to grow and develop this year. Established as a partnership between Transition UStA, St Andrews Botanic Garden, St Andrews Environmental Network, Clean and Green, St Andrews Men’s Shed, St Andrews Community Hub, and In Bloom using funding from the Scottish Governments Climate Challenge fund and the Pilgrims Trust, the Kernel fulfils the requirement for community groups to be able to undertake practical projects and workshops that might require flexible outdoor and indoor space. Projects being developed on the site include a Tool library (Toolshare project) where residents can access a huge range of basic DIY, kitchen, craft and garden tools on a weekly basis. This aims to help locals undertake practical projects in their home, without the need to purchase unnecessary equipment, whilst also providing basic training on tool use. In the neighbouring community garden there are beds of vegetables grown by and for volunteers. The site also boasts two professional greenhouses which are used by the In Bloom team and Transition UStA to grow flowers for the community and hundreds of kilograms of hot house vegetables including tomatoes, chillies and cucumbers. The StAndRe-use project continues to be incredibly successful, collecting and redistributing pre-owned items within the St Andrews student community each year. In total, this year StAndRe-Use collected and gave away 5,200kg of student household goods, the value of which was estimated at over £50,000. Items included electronics, clothing, books, kitchenware, cutlery and utensils, mugs and glasses, sports equipment, clothes hangers and stationery. Around 850 students attended the giveaway during the start of AY 2017/18. Transition UStA’s community retail project The Tree continued this year - a non-profit project that aims to support local food producers by making their products readily available to the St Andrews community at affordable prices. The Tree also sells a variety of Fairtrade and Organic goods in order provide options which will benefit the environment. Run largely by student volunteers, last year the Tree turned over around £3,000, the profits of which are ploughed back into Transition UStA’s other programmes. Skillshare, a project aimed at encouraging the local community to share and teach skills had a very busy year, running twice as many events as planned (49 skill shares attended by a total of 477 people). Skillshare has proved very popular with workshops regularly fully booked, including “Love Food Hate Waste” cookery workshops,

Figure 4: A sewing skillshare in action


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how to play the bagpipes, book-binding and how to build a long bow. St Andrews Green Film Festival, organised by a group of local residents, students and Transition UStA, continues to run each February. The Festival showcases the latest, most inspiring films about climate change and sustainability, connecting audiences and the natural environment. The large range of behaviour change activities with which members of the University engage and promote address various aspects of SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Edible Campus and The Tree contribute to target 2.3 (By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment) by increasing the knowledge and practice of growing in the local community and providing opportunities for local farmers to reach a wider market for their products. The StAndRe-Use project addresses target 12.5 (By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse) as thousands of kg of goods are diverted from landfill. The Kernel, and in particular the Toolshare, provides resources that also address target 12.5 as it allows tools to be re-used by a whole community. The other various behaviour change activities undertaken at the University work towards target 12.8 (By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature) as students, staff, and the wider community are educated about sustainability and the environment.

Travel and transport Staff business travel emissions are monitored through liaison with travel providers and staff travel expense claims and these are reported in the Public Sector Climate Change Duties Report for Scottish Government. Transition UStA’s “Bike Pool” programme, which supports cyclists by combining bike rental with maintenance and training ran 45 bike maintenance workshops this year and fixed 559 bikes. The scheme is integral to the promotion of cycling across St Andrews and helped the University to achieve Cycle Friendly Campus with Distinction’ from Cycling Scotland in March 2017. The main carbon reduction Figure 5: Transition UStA staff with the Bikepool bikes


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output from the scheme is a reduction in new bikes being purchased and also a reduction in abandonment due to improved maintenance. This year has seen the establishment of the Go E-Bikes scheme, facilitated by Transition UStA and funded by SEStran. Go E-Bike is a shared bike rental scheme which provides access to a fleet of electric bikes from fixed bases across the Town and Eden Campus (the University’s new campus in nearby Guardbridge village). The scheme is aimed at providing University staff with bikes for within work journeys and commuting, thus reducing travel by car. After attending a one-hour training session, staff can then access the bikes using an App on their smart phone. Initially there are four Go E-bike stations from which to pick-up and return bikes: Eden Campus Park and Pedal, Gateway Building, Woodburn (East Sands) and College Gate. Once hired, staff are able to take bikes anywhere for up to 24 hours without charge. Transition UStA have also aided the expansion of the E-Car Club this year, which had four further charging hubs installed this year in central St Andrews. The University’s strives to provide various forms of safe and environmentally- friendly transportation contribute to achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and in particular target 11.2 (By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons).

Conclusion University of St Andrews continues to be at the forefront of sustainability research teaching, action and behaviour change. In 2018/19, by working with our staff, students and the local community, we will endeavour to achieve even more.

university of st andrews annual sustainability report 2017 ...€¦ · world-class research in...

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