Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY)

Play for the planet: five climate change games for the festive season (written by Dr Lynda Dunlop and Prasad Sandbhor)🎄 Climate conversations at Christmas can be tough - but what if games could help? While many people in the UK worry about climate change, holiday traditions around travel, gifts, and waste often spark disagreement. Games, however, offer a unique way to bring people together, encouraging playful, non-threatening discussions about climate action. Our wonderful colleagues Dr Lynda Dunlop and Prasad Sandbhor from the University of York have written an article for The Conversation, sharing five games to try for stimulating conversations about climate change over the holidays. ➡️ Read their article to find out more! https://lnkd.in/dHHWJi4A #sustainabilityatyork #PlayForThePlanet

12 Days Wild: the Wildlife Trusts ❄️ 12 Days Wild is a festive nature challenge from the Wildlife Trusts, encouraging you to do one wild thing a day from the 25 December to the 5 January. Your wild acts could be little things to help nature - like recycling your Christmas tree or feeding the birds – or ways to connect to the natural world, like taking in the calm of stargazing. Find out more and get involved here: https://bit.ly/2YzQCHj

Engendering Change conference: Inspiring creative solutions for York’s sustainable future 🌱 On 29 November, 2nd Year students from the Department of Environment and Geography came together for the Engendering Change conference, marking the culmination of a solutions-focused module addressing real-world challenges in food, transport, and energy systems for the City of York. Throughout the Engendering Change module, students received theoretical and practical guidance before collaborating in teams to design creative, actionable strategies for transformational change. Their efforts culminated in a professional-style conference organised by a student-led committee of six, who were responsible for crafting an agenda, inviting guest speakers, and ensuring the event mirrored professional conferences. With 175 students, and 15 external guests, the conference featured: 🌿 A keynote by Ian Mackay from Leeds City Council 🌿 Breakout sessions showcasing student-led innovative solutions 🌿 Insights and connections with external guests including Cllr Kate Ravilious and Cllr Paula Widdowson, along with representatives from City of York Council, Good Food York, Edible York, and York Community Energy. Guests praised the professionalism of the students’ presentations and their visionary ideas, which offer hope for York’s sustainable future. A huge well done to all the student teams for their outstanding presentation efforts and to the student committee for organising such a brilliant and inspiring conference! ➡️ Read the full story to learn more about the creative solutions that emerged from this inspiring day: https://bit.ly/4gA9kFI #sustainabilityatyork

Celebrating the Sustainability Clinic highlights 2023/24! 🎉 As the year draws to a close, we think that it's the perfect time to reflect on and celebrate our achievements. We’re thrilled to share the Sustainability Clinic Highlights Report 2023/24! In September 2023, the Sustainability Clinic became an elective module open to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students. This hands-on, interdisciplinary module has since empowered hundreds of students to tackle real-world sustainability challenges, creating meaningful change for organisations across the region. Key highlights include: 🌿 Winning a Green Gown Award for student engagement 🌿 Earning a Highly Commended recognition at the International Green Gown Awards 🌿 Engaging 500+ students and collaborating with 70+ organisations to date 🌿 Attracting students from diverse disciplines, including Maths, Education, Archaeology, and Politics (to name a few!) We encourage you to explore the full Highlights Report to read inspiring case studies, success stories, and find out how you might be able to get involved in the module. ➡️ You can find the link to the Full Highlights Report at the bottom of this page: https://bit.ly/3Vxuw79 A huge thanks to all the staff, partner organisations, GTAs and student teams who have helped make this module a success so far! #sustainabilityclinic

The University of York has been ranked the 12th most sustainable university in the UK and 34th in the world, according to the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025 🌍 These rankings assess 1,744 universities worldwide on their impact in addressing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) challenges, in which York achieved the #1 global position for governance. Some of York's recent sustainability initiatives include: 🌿 3000+ trees planted on campus grounds in 2023/24 🌿 £153,815 raised to reinvest in sustainable projects through the Latte Levy since 2019 🌿 100+ staff and students have participated in Climate Fresk workshops, with 20+ facilitators trained 🌿 2,800 people reached through Green Impact at York actions in 2023/24 with 192 teams participating. ➡️ You can see the full QS World Sustainability Rankings 2025 by visiting here: https://bit.ly/4gj3Y1k ➡️ Read our latest Sustainability Annual Progress Report to find out how we're advancing on our sustainability objectives: https://bit.ly/3ZsnWzO #sustainabilityatyork

There's still time to submit your event or activity to Sustainability Week 2025! The University of York's annual Sustainability Week (SW) offers staff and students the opportunity to organise or join a range of fun and engaging activities relating to sustainability and the environment. SW25 will take place 3-7 March 2025. ➡️ Submit your event/activity (deadline 31 December): https://bit.ly/3Z8pYGz #SustainabilityWeek #SW25 #sustainabilityatyork

Read the York Students' Union Student Sustainability Guide 🌿 Have you had a look at the Student Sustainability Guide yet? It’s a great starting point for finding ways to make your daily life or student groups more sustainable. While climate action and sustainability are challenges too big for one person alone, small changes can create meaningful impacts over time. This guide is here to help you take those steps! ➡️ Download it from the York SU Sustainability webpage for practical tips on sustainable living and links to additional resources: https://bit.ly/48Zn7mn #sustainabilityatyork

📢 LAST CHANCE TO APPLY: Student Sustainability Research Conference 2025 Ever poured your heart into a university project and wondered, ‘What’s next?’ Here’s your chance to showcase your work at a professional conference! If your project touches on sustainability in any way, don’t miss this opportunity to present it at the Student Sustainability Research Conference 2025 (SSRC25) at the University of Leeds on 5 March. This unique event brings together students of all levels and disciplines across Yorkshire and the Humber. It’s a chance to: 🌿 Share your ideas with a wider audience 🌿 Gain inspiration from your peers 🌿 Build your confidence in a supportive, professional setting Find out more and apply by 15 December: https://bit.ly/3C400ef #sustainabilityatyork #ssrc25 #sustainabilityproject

📅 Amplifying Climate Voices: Storytelling With Many Roots (9 December, 6pm - 8pm, Sustainability Clinic) 📢 Calling climate enthusiasts and changemakers! Join us for an opportunity to craft and share your climate story with the people of York at a special event planned for March 2025. Stories stick, and hearing people's firsthand experiences can be profoundly impactful. We are looking for people from the global majority who are on/near/or connected to the frontline of the climate and ecological crisis and are passionate to share their perspectives. You do not need to be story-ready, we are planning a short series of story-crafting workshops to equip and support you. Join us at the kick-off session to co-create and bring this event to life. There will be snacks! ➡️ When: 9 December, 6pm-8pm ➡️ Where Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York (Campus West) ➡️ Who to contact: [email protected] #WithManyRoots #climatestories #sustainabilityatyork

📅 Play for the Planet 2 (25 April 2025, 9am - 5pm, University of York) 🌏 Are you curious about the role of games in tackling environmental challenges? Whether you’re a game designer, researcher, or just passionate about the planet, Play for the Planet invites you to connect, learn, and play! This one-day event explores how games (tabletop, digital, and role-playing) can drive education, research, and public engagement on climate and ecological crises. Why Join? ◾ Link research and practice in environmental gaming. ◾ Share your experience designing or researching environmental games. ◾ Learn how to use games for education and engagement. ◾ Connect, collaborate, and explore new directions in environmental communication. How to get involved? ◾ Research Blast: Give a 3-minute, 1-slide intro to your work. Abstract deadline: 12pm, 17th January 2025 ◾ World café question: Suggest a discussion topic on games and the environment. ◾ Game speed intro: Showcase a game you’ve designed or researched. ◾ Join the fun: Bring your ideas, play with others, and imagine new possibilities. ➡️ Sign up for Play for the Planet 2 here: https://bit.ly/41jIJbo #PlayForThePlanet #sustainabilityatyork