3 ways to help make a difference with climate change whilst at university

UCL If you are interested in combatting climate change or living more sustainably whilst studying, there are several ways that you can have a positive impact and make change possible.

Here are three areas to take into consideration when thinking about where, or what to study for a greener future.

1. Choose a green university

UCL Choosing a university committed to creating change at a local, national and global scale is one way that you can help shape the future of our planet. Thanks to a huge community of top academics and students that are always ready to collaborate and test new ideas, UCL has been named the winner of the Green Gown Award for Climate Action, and we are number one in the University Carbon League table. The UCL campus is powered by 100% renewable electricity, and carbon emissions have been reduced by 29% over the last 10 years. Look at our roofs and you can see our solar panels and green roofs. Our waste? None of it goes to landfill. Our food? You can get vegan options at all UCL outlets, and catering for all UCL meetings and events is 100% meat free.

Find out more about how UCL is helping to combat climate change.

2. Study climate change

UCL A UCL education is a climate education. Whatever subject you study at UCL our degree programs are designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to be a climate leader. UCL offers degrees specialising in environmental science, climate science, sustainability, conservation and more. But what if your chosen degree doesn’t specialise in these areas? UCL is committed to enabling students of any subject to engage with sustainability as part of their studies by 2024. Our ‘Living Lab’ approach encourages students to use the campus as a laboratory to research topics such as recycling behaviours, behaviour change, solar panel efficiency, and water consumption for projects and dissertations. There are also many climate modules or additional climate elements you can opt for, so you can still study climate as part of your degree even if it’s not your specialism. UCL also offer every student and member of staff the opportunity to take an online course in Sustainability to learn key actions that can be taken to improve your environmental impact, including how to recycle, save energy and travel more sustainably.

Find out about studying climate change at UCL.

3. Make choices that have an impact

Studying at university can be pretty full on, but there are some small changes you can take to lead a more sustainable life whilst studying. Read Small Steps, Big Change on how to get hold of a reusable coffee cup or exchange clothes at swap shops. Or why not try to commit to taking one simple planet-saving action a term? Find out what you can do to help and pledge your action here.

UCL is located in London, one of the most exciting cities in the world, but this has both positive and negative consequences when it comes to living sustainably. See tips from UCL students on how to live sustainably in this great city. Make your voice heard! Get involved with one of the many green groups at UCL, and work with our fantastic community of students. You can join the Sustainability Ambassador Programme as a volunteer to make change possible, or become a member of UCL’s Student Sustainability Council, to help direct UCL’s sustainability vision with your student voice. Check out UCL’s clubs and societies as well. From re-distributing UCL food to homeless shelters with the Zero Waste Society, to engaging students in years 9 to 12 in justice activism with the Environmental Justice Project, there are many green societies you can join.

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