Green Action Week inspires sustainability initiatives in College

24 February 2023

The University of Oxford’s inaugural Green Action Week (20-24 February) featured a range of events that aimed to empower and celebrate environmental action. From debates on the future of transport in Oxford to a climate comedy lecture, there was much to enjoy.

In College, we recognise the urgent need to address the climate crisis and take seriously the part we must play in reducing our impact on the environment. Green Action Week provided the impetus for a number of sustainability-driven initiatives that saw the Jesus community come together to learn, get creative and take action on environmental issues. 

Table covered in flower pots with two young women standing behind smiling and hugging

JCR E&E Reps Penny and Jojo, who organised events for Green Action Week

 

JCR Environmental and Ethics reps Penny Hodgson and Jojo Ward led the way by organising two events for students. The first, a talk on sustainability in College, gave members of both the JCR and MCR the chance to hear from College Officers on the steps we have already taken towards meeting the University’s goal to reach net zero carbon by 2035, and a preview of the sustainability strategy we will be working towards as part of our new Strategic Plan 2023 – 27. Penny and Jojo also organised a creative Planting and Pizza evening in the College café. Over forty students joined in to decorate reusable terracotta plant pots and sow seeds that will become edible plants in late spring. And after all that thirsty work, the DACC team arranged a supply of locally-made beer from the sustainability-driven Church Hanbrewery to be on tap in the College bar.

JCR members get to work on decorating their plant pots in the new Cheng Building cafe.

 

Elsewhere, Library team members Owen McKnight and Grace Exley chose four books themed on environmental action for an eye-catching Green Action Week display at the entrance to the Meyricke Library, which Grace designed. The selected books were Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming (Paul Hawken), How Bad Are Bananas? (Mike Berners-Lee), The Climate Book (Greta Thunberg) and How to save the world for free (Natalie Lee).

Large wooden wall case with 2 glass windows displaying front cover of 4 books

The Green Action Week book display at the entrance to the Meyricke Library

 

More widely, the College used the Week to make a pledge to further reduce food wastage, improve recycling and save more energy across its Oxford estate.

Oxford’s food recycling is taken to an anaerobic digestion plant near Cassington, Oxfordshire, where it is broken down by bacteria and turned into biogas and liquid fertiliser. The biogas is a renewable energy source used to generate electricity – enough to power 4,200 homes. The liquid fertiliser is spread on local fields – helping to naturally boost crop yield. The DACC team launched a campaign to encourage more food waste recycling by providing rolls of biodegradable food waste bags for every kitchen in College accommodation, along with posters listing what foods can and can’t be recycled. The team also pledged to improve labelling on recycling bins across College accommodation sites to make it clearer which bins can be used for recycling, and what can waste can be recycled.

And finally, across the Jesus community, everyone was encouraged to #BeEnergyFriendly by remembering to switch off lights, close windows and turn heaters down or off when not in the office or in their bedrooms.

For more information on the College’s environmental sustainability work, click here.