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Department of Sociology

 

The Sociology Green Team Achieves SILVER!

 

Congratulations to the Department Green Team for all of their hard work in helping us achieve the Cambridge University Green Challenge, Silver Award.

The University of Cambridge has around 19,000 students and over 11,000 staff. With an estate portfolio valued at over £1.7bn, a planned capital building programme worth £412m, and energy costs of £15m a year, the University has a high environmental impact and large carbon footprint. The University is committed to continual environmental improvement, including an absolute reduction of its overall carbon footprint by 2020.

One of the ways in which the Green Team is trying to reduce the carbon footprint of the University is through its Green Impact programme; an environmental accreditation scheme. Green Impact is a change and engagement programme – it helps people from across the university understand sustainability and social responsibility, showing Departments what they can do to make a difference, and supports them in achieving these actions. University departments and institutions can work towards a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award.

This is the first year that the Sociology Department has taken part in this challenge, which makes it especially exciting to have been awarded the Silver award. Noteable Departmental achievements include:

  • An ongoing stationery amnesty;
  • Replacing disposable water containers and cups for reusable ones in meetings;
  • Providing Departmental blankets and jumpers for cold days;
  • Introducing a pen recyling scheme;
  • Starting a brown-bag lunch session.

The award will officially be presented to the Department at a ceremony on the 21st June. Particular thanks and congratulations for the achievement of this award must go to our lead ambassadors for the scheme- Siobhan Hoffmann Heap and Karin Haack!