The Climate Emergency Day of Action will take place on Friday 26 February to mark the end of Sustainability Month. It has been timetabled into the university calendar and is the first time climate action has been prioritised over usual educational activity by the University of Bristol.
Bristol SU and the University of Bristol have worked collaboratively to encourage students, staff and members of the public to participate in activities related to the climate emergency, and increase understanding of the challenges we currently face.
Virtual events will be programmed throughout the day including panel discussions, teach-outs, a People’s Assembly and keynote speakers. Confirmed speakers are:
- Environmental campaigner Tony Juniper
- Ed Miliband, the Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol
- Larissa Kennedy, NUS President
- Mya-Rose Craig, Ornithologist known as Birdgirl
- Katie Alcott, founder of Frank Water
Dr Eunice Lo, Cabot Institute for the Environment member, will also give a talk on Climate and Health - Heatwaves and mortality: past, present and future impacts.
The day of action was one of the Bristol SU Officer team priorities for the year and builds on years of sustainability work from Bristol SU which ranges from supporting the Fossil Free campaign to endorsing the climate strike movement.
Ruth Day, Bristol SU Student Living Officer said:
“This is the single biggest issue that our generation is facing and it’s important that everyone is able to access the education and skills they need to help tackle it. I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to work with university on this at it demonstrates their commitment to tackling the climate emergency.”
David Ion, Bristol SU Undergraduate Education Officer, said:
“I’m really excited by the speakers who will be part of the day and am looking forward to students being able to learn more on such a vital topic. The Climate Emergency Day of Action was one of my aims for this year and it’s great to see it come into fruition.”
Dr Erik Lithander, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Bristol, said:
“The energy and commitment that the University of Bristol student body is putting into the issue of climate action makes me incredibly proud.
“The University has already won numerous awards for its work on sustainability and we have more ambitious plans yet – including becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
“The partnership that this Day of Action represents is a fantastic foundation for the very important work that all of us have to do to support sustainability in all its forms. I very much look forward to supporting its success.”
£20,000 has been given to Bristol SU by Bristol Alumni and friends to continue funding sustainability projects after the Climate Emergency Day of Action.
The University of Bristol was the first UK university to declare a climate emergency in 2019, following campaigning by staff and students.
Following a successful campaign led by Veterinary students Hannah and Elspeth, The University of Bristol is installing Ecosia as the default search engine on open access computers in libraries and study spaces this month.
Full event details can be found at bristolsu.org.uk/climateemergency. All speaker videos will be live on the site on 26 February.