1. What would you like the Union to do?
The climate crisis is an existential challenge that affects all aspects of student life, from academic opportunities and future careers to personal well-being. As one of the UK’s leading universities, UCL has both the responsibility and the influence to take ambitious action on sustainability.
The Union should reinforce its strong and ongoing commitment to sustainability and addressing the climate crisis by:
a) Embedding sustainability as a core priority across the Union’s work:
The Union should build on its existing Sustainability Strategy 2022-25 integrating sustainability into all areas of its activities, from student engagement and campaigns to decision-making processes and operational policies. This includes ensuring that sustainability is factored into Union-run events, procurement, partnerships, and advocacy efforts.
b) Supporting the Sustainability Council as a key mechanism for student-led climate action:
The Union should formally recognize the Sustainability Council as an essential space for students to collaborate and develop sustainability initiatives. The Council will aim to play a key role in amplifying student voices and influencing the Union, UCL, and actors beyond our student community in regards to sustainability and climate action.
With that in mind, the Sustainability Council will have two main branches: Monthly Council sessions and student-led Task Forces.
The Monthly Council sessions will be open to all students, providing a space to address environmental matters and discuss ongoing sustainability projects at the Union. The Council, from time to time, might submit policy to Zones for consideration to further its work. The Union will formally invite all environmental societies to take part, in addition to relevant environmental student leaders.
The Task Forces are student-led working groups focused on specific areas of work. Currently, the Sustainability Council has the Banking and Political Task Forces which should be actively supported by the Union. In addition to these two Task Forces, the Union should aim to develop other Task Forces throughout the years in areas such as Energy, Education, Biodiversity, and any other areas that the student community deems relevant. The Union should ensure that each Task Force has an overarching vision that spans multiple years, along with clear goals set at the beginning of each academic year.
The responsibility for ensuring project continuity across the Task Forces from year to year rests with the SU President, who will be supported by any relevant staff members. It is also the responsibility of these members/groups to recruit students at the start of each year to join the Council and its Task Forces. When relevant and feasible, the Sustainability Officer will support the work of the President in relation to the Sustainability Council and its Task Forces.
c) Lobbying and supporting UCL to strengthen its climate commitments and sustainability/ environmental related policies:
The Union should push UCL to implement more ambitious sustainability initiatives, hold the university accountable for its environmental commitments, and ensure student voices are meaningfully included in shaping sustainability policies.
2. Why would you like to do this?
The Students’ Union has already taken important steps, such as developing a sustainability strategy and initiatives to educate students such as the Sustainability Course developed in partnership with the IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, running sustainability events, and facilitating the implementation of the new SU Sustainability Council. However, a more structured and long-term commitment will ensure that sustainability remains a central priority across all Union activities.
By embedding sustainability into the Union’s core work, the Union can more effectively push for change at UCL, support student-led climate action, and ensure that future officers continue to prioritise environmental issues. The Sustainability Council provides an essential structure to make this possible, offering a space for students to coordinate efforts, connect with sustainability initiatives across the UK, and advocate for stronger policies at both UCL and national levels.
3. How will this affect students?
a) Creating long-term structures for student-led sustainability action:
By formally recognizing the Sustainability Council as part of this commitment, students will have a dedicated space to shape the Union’s sustainability priorities, and run campaigns that drive climate and environmental action across the university and beyond. This ensures that climate action remains a priority regardless of changes in Union leadership as well as project continuity.
b) Ensuring that student voices are heard in the Union’s sustainability decisions:
A stronger mandate for sustainability means that students will have more opportunities to influence how the Union approaches environmental issues, making it easier to push for motions that align with student values and the urgent need for climate action.
c) Making sustainability a core part of the Union’s work:
This motion ensures that sustainability is prioritised as an integral part of the Union’s mission and wider mandate. This will result in more environmentally responsible Union activities, more opportunities for students to get involved in sustainability initiatives, and a stronger platform for students who want to drive meaningful climate action.
By passing this motion, the Union will commit to making sustainability a long-term priority, strengthening its ability to advocate for ambitious climate policies, and providing students with structured opportunities to take action through spaces like the Sustainability Council. This will ensure that environmental issues and action remain central to the Union’s mandate to advocate for a more just and sustainable future.