The new Warden at Goldsmiths University, Frances Corner, has announced a series of measures that form an overall initiative for the establishment to become carbon neutral by 2025. They promise the addition of more solar PV as part of a new series of pledges in response to the climate emergency.
Goldsmiths joins other UK universities declaring a climate emergency, and it plans to use rooftop solar PV as a means of reducing its own contribution to climate change. The university already has solar PV but they have neglected to comment on their current system capacity, or what size they intend to extend it to. What they have said is we should expect a ‘significantly greater number of panels’ across it’s campus in New Cross, South East London.
The university have also pledged to switch to a totally clean energy supplier ‘as soon as practicable.’ They also plan to further reduce their climate footprint by removing all beef products from its food retailers and introduce a 10 pence levy on bottled water and single-use plastic cups.
”Though I have only just arrived at Goldsmiths, it is immediately obvious that our staff and students care passionately about the future of our environment and that they are determined to help deliver the step change we need to cut our carbon footprint drastically and as quickly as possible. Declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words. I truly believe we face a defining moment in global history and Goldsmiths now stands shoulder to shoulder with other organisation willing to call the alarm and take urgent action to cut carbon use.”
The university’s Students’ Union president Joe Leam said: ”Our house is on fire.” invoking the words of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. ”I believe Frances Corner and the university management are realising this and making these changes to put their part of the house fire out. The SU will be a part of this process every step of the way to make sure this stays true, seeking to speed up the process wherever possible, and will keep the college community updated throughout.”
Rosie Rogers, of Greenpeace UK, said: ”It’s encouraging to see an institution like Goldsmiths not simply declaring a climate emergency but acting on it. From energy use, to food sales and plastic pollution – all universities and organisations with campus sites can make changes across their facilities that are better for our plant. We call on others to urgently follow suit and to include cutting all ties from fossil fuel funding in their climate emergency response.”