Understanding sustainability is more important now than ever, and universities hold a lot of responsibility when it comes to the future of our planet. The ongoing climate crisis affects us all, and we believe sustainability should be accessible and inclusive for everyone. Keele SU is dedicated to embedding sustainability throughout everything we do, creating opportunities for students from every corner of the university to get involved and help make a difference.

Each year SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability) carry out a survey surrounding student opinions and attitudes around their university experience and career aspirations. In the most recent Sustainability Skills Survey, 76% of students agreed that Keele SU takes action to limit its effect on the environment and society. (You can view the full report here) Whilst we're pleased that this number is so high, we're aiming for 100%.

We are committed to delivering excellent student activities and campaigns that improve the student experience at Keele. We know that sustainability is so much more than just planting trees and turning off the heating. From liberation and social justice to our environmental practices, we're working hard to ensure we address all aspects of sustainability, as mapped out by the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. We will continue to champion student-led initiatives focusing on how we can improve our practices and empower grass-roots activism to improve not just the SU, but the University and the wider community.

Keele SU Has Officially Declared a Climate Emergency and enacted a Sustainability Action Plan!

At a UGM in 2019, you voted in favour of the Union declaring a climate emergency in line with the University and the local council. We know that declaring a climate emergency is just the first step towards creating a more sustainable future, and that we’ve first got to build a solid foundation with which we can work together to do better. As a result, we have put together a list of ten commitments that we will be working towards going forward, as well as ten examples of what we're already doing in our full climate emergency statement and have passed our very first Sustainability SMART Action Plan for the foreseeable future!

This plan was put together by your Full Time Officers with the help of SU staff and was approved by the Board of Trustees in 2022. Please email su.voice@keele.ac.uk if you have any questions!

Find out what Keele University is doing for sustainability and get involved here