Sustainability news

Dorian Holloway, Director of Estates led this Go Green session on the OU's waste management journey and shined a light on our OU waste stream statistics and guidance on how we can all help the OU to be greener.

This event recording offers practical ways to reduce your environmental impact while staying connected. Discover simple strategies like choosing low-carbon transport, planning efficient routes, and exploring virtual alternatives to unnecessary trips.
 

The 2025 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP-30 for short) taken place in Belém, Pará, Brazil from 10 to 21 November 2025. This global gathering at the heart of the Amazonian rainforest has unsurprisingly put climate finance for protecting forests high on the agenda.

The OU was once again a proud supporter of Net Zero Week in July, and this year hosted a webinar titled Community Engagement and Net Zero on 8 July.

In this insightful video, Marta Nowicka from SOS-UK and Teresa Cox, Senior Manager at PVCS, delve into the Open University's role as a Host Partner for the Responsible Futures programme. They highlight the significance of the Responsible Futures accreditation, recently awarded to the OU, which recognises the institution’s dedication to embedding sustainability and social responsibility across its curriculum and operations.

The discussion explores:

In this inspiring Go Green session, participants explored the importance of biodiversity and how small changes in our gardens and outdoor areas can make a big impact. The workshop offered practical tips for embracing nature-friendly practices, including how to support No Mow May thoughtfully and effectively.

In the latest Go Green session hosted by The Open University in Ireland, Kevin Donnelly, Information and Statistics Officer, explored practical ways to reduce our digital carbon footprint. From evaluating internet usage to rethinking how we stream video content, Kevin shared actionable tips to help us live more sustainably in the digital world.

In this insightful session, we explored how the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) framework supports global efforts toward a sustainable future. Closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the IDGs highlight the inner capacities, such as empathy, resilience, and collaboration that individuals and communities need to drive meaningful change.

In this engaging session, we explore Giki, the fun and interactive carbon calculator designed to help individuals understand their personal carbon footprint. Whether you're just starting your sustainability journey or looking to deepen your impact, Giki offers a simple way to measure your lifestyle’s environmental impact and take meaningful steps to reduce it.

What You’ll Learn:

As our reliance on digital technologies grows, so does the environmental impact of data centres, devices, and online activity. In this insightful session, David Crews explores the hidden carbon footprint of our digital lives and the challenges institutions like The Open University face on the journey to Net Zero.