University of Glasgow - MyGlasgow - Sustainability [for students & staff]

Sustainability Working Group

Appointed by SMG, the Sustainability Working Group (SWG) is responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of the University’s Sustainability Strategy (“Glasgow Green: Towards a Climate Strategy and Action Plan for the University of Glasgow”). The University’s main goal is to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2030.

A central theme of the strategy is the need to engage the University community more effectively in this developing agenda. There are huge opportunities in this respect; people at all levels are treating the issue of climate change with a renewed sense of urgency and are willing the University to go further and faster.

A second theme relates to the University’s place in the world; rather than being inward looking, the strategy seeks to use our influence and expertise to address key challenges and inspire others to action.

The SWG will approve and oversee implementation of a delivery plan and timeline associated with the strategy and action plan.

The Board has final accountability for the production and governance of the annual and 3-year investment plans. Each Board member has a responsibility to:

Assess and publicly support the outcomes from the Sustainability Action Plan including providing insight into impact
Provide challenge on the Sustainability Strategy delivery timescales including cost and resource constraints
Identify, assess and mitigate sustainability risk at an institutional level as well as horizon scanning at a sector level
Take ownership for specific actions and risks in the SSDB Action and Risk Logs. All actions and risks must have a board member as overall owner
Ensure that activities align with the University’s values

Strategy & Policy

Oversee the University's sustainability Action Plan and the associated delivery plan and timeline, ensuring full alignment to the 2025 University Strategy and related strategies
Ensure that sustainability engagement is effectively co-ordinated and leveraged across University
Work with other bodies to broaden the University sustainability ambition to staff and students
Ensure that outcomes are monitored and reviewed and, where appropriate, linked to performance measures
Ensure that sustainability engagement activities are profiled effectively through the communications channels of the University and its partners
Report periodically to Senior Management Group and Court (via Estates Committee) on the performance and progress of the Sustainability Action Plan

Delivery & Operations

Improve the focus, visibility and effectiveness of the University’s sustainability commitments
Develop and implement an institutional strategy to address the climate crisis
Develop and recommend policies regarding sustainability to SMG and Court
Ensure the University’s sustainability ambitions are understood and embedded across the University
Ensure the University’s contribution is solution focused and impact orientated, mobilising knowledge and using all its capabilities as a leading anchor institution for sustainability in the city of Glasgow and on a global platform
Ensure that the Board's membership includes the skills and experience necessary to address its remit effectively. To this end, the Board membership may rotate depending what aspect of the sustainability agenda is under development. Small working sub-groups may be formed from time to time.

Membership

This is a joint executive and non-executive chaired Board with the following membership:
- Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary (co-Chair)
- Academic lead (co-Chair)
- College representatives
- University Services representative
- Head of Procurement
- Two representatives of the Students’ Representative Council
- Representative from Estates
- Trade Union Representative
In attendance
- Director of Sustainability
- Sustainable Environment Officer
- Communications and Public Affairs Officer (as required)
There must be a minimum of 4 from the core group (excluding clerk in attendance for decisions or approvals. In the event of a consensus not being reached, the Chair will have the casting decision.