Operational sustainability
The Sustainability Governance Board (formerly the Carbon Management Program Board) was formed in 2011, to oversee the drafting and implementation of the Carbon Management Plan. The board now oversees all elements of strategic and operational sustainability, such as:
- energy
- water
- waste
- sustainable food
- sustainable procurement
- staff and student engagement.
The board meets quarterly, and includes senior representation from across the university and the Students’ Union
Trade unions
The university works with the following trades union representatives on sustainability issues that impact on students and staff.
The university is keen to encourage involvement from trade unions in contributing to the development of a sustainable working environment, and representatives are invited to join the Sustainability Governance Board to input into sustainability decision making.
Student representation
Students are represented by the University of Brighton Students’ Union on all university committees relating to sustainability, including: estates, planning, finance, and resource allocation.
A student representative sits on the Sustainability Governance Board, the university’s main sustainability decision-making group.
The Students’ Union President and Students’ Union Chair of Council are also members of the Board of Governors, which oversees resource allocation and finance at the university.
Additionally, student representatives sit on all Campus Management Groups, which discuss all matters relating to campus developments.
Action network
The Sustainability Action Network (SAN) is a campus-specific forum open to all staff and students, in which they can come together to share ideas and bring about change to their local environments through grassroots action.
The university’s Sustainability Team supports the networks which are coordinated locally by those involved. There is a £250 annual budget to support each SAN, which can be used to develop and deliver activities on campus.
In September 2018 the Moulsecoomb SAN, Green Moulsecoomb, launched a campus wide tea-towel reuse system to reduce use of paper towels across the campus, which are not recyclable.
Minutes from Sustainability Action Network group meetings are shared at the relevant Campus Management Group by the Sustainability Team.