Sustainability Action Network

What is it?
The Sustainability Action Network (SAN) is a university-wide forum where all staff and students come together to share ideas and bring about change to their local environments through grassroots action. Action stems from meetings which are held once each term, across the university.

 The SAN is for academic and support staff, together with students, to meet, discuss and plan how to ‘green’ their immediate environment at the University as well as think about broader sustainable development issues. In the 2008-09 academic year, the Sustainability Action Network (previously known as Environmental Action Network) made significant advances in becoming a force for change within the university.

How does it work?
The SAN meetings focus upon developing plans for grassroots action stemming from staff and student experience. The number of initiatives has greatly increased over the past year... participating will make you realise your capacity as an agent of change within the university.

The uniqueness of the SAN lies not only in its all-inclusive grassroots involvement but also in the fact that ideas and comments made at these meetings are minuted and taken to local Deans for follow-up and action where possible. Furthermore, broader initiatives and comments are relayed to the Sustainable Development Management Group, chaired by Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Stuart Laing, which feeds back to local groups.

These forums present staff and students with an opportunity to take action but also channel suggestions and requests to high-level decision-making bodies and act upon change across the board.

Who attends?
The meetings are open to the entire university community - and sometimes include people from other sites or outside the university who can inform attendees of sustainability initiatives operating at a wider level. To find out about the next meeting at your site, please contact:

Sustainable Development Coordination Unit

01273 644707 or Elona: E.Hoover@brighton.ac.uk