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The first Sustainability Leadership Conference took place at UCL East earlier this month, as a joint venture ran by the Students’ Union UCL and Sustainable UCL .

More than 100 student delegates came together over two days to hear from expert speakers, join panel discussions, and take part in workshops.

Empowering the next generation of leaders

The conference aimed to help empower and inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders and kick-start a conversation that began when Union President Mary McHarg attended COP28.

Experts from a wide range of organisations including Greenpeace UK, WWF, ITV, and Lego discussed embedding sustainability in organisational culture, policy-driven sustainability and innovative approaches.

Highlights included discussions on global biodiversity, reducing fossil fuel dependency and sustainable food systems.

Hearing from sector leaders

Alan Salazar Guerra, the incoming Sustainability Officer for Students’ Union UCL, advocated for "concerned optimism" and urging proactive steps towards sustainability.

Robbie Macpherson, senior political advisor for Uplift and Climate Change APPG Lead, emphasised the necessity of phasing out oil and gas, shifting workers from high to low carbon emission industries and influencing national sustainability policy through consultations with decision makers.

Laurie Laybourn, executive director of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative, ran a workshop focused on developing leadership skills during environmental, social and economic crises.

Sara Mahdi, climate social scientist and UCL alum, discussed communication strategies for climate change, emphasising that not having a degree is not a barrier for entry and stressing the need to simplify communication and include a diverse audience into the climate conversation.

Showcasing students driving change

Attendees also connected with sustainability focused societies like MODO Fashion Society and Green Economy Society, who are making large strides in addressing the fast fashion crisis and promoting circular economy initiatives.

The conference concluded with a Youth Leadership panel chaired by Mary McHarg, with panellists sharing their career journeys and tips for overcoming climate anxiety.

For students wanting to find out more about how they can get involved in sustainability initiatives, visit our Sustainability Hub or Sustainable UCL.