In 2019 Exeter College formed a Sustainability Working Group to consider policies and initiatives that could make the College’s operations more sustainable and ultimately help the College reach net zero carbon. The Group is chaired by the Rector and is made up of current Fellows and student representatives (including JCR and MCR Presidents as well as Ethics and Environment Reps), as well as staff such as the College’s Sustainability Coordinator (a role which we believe to be the first dedicated sustainability professional within Oxford’s colleges and private halls). The Group reports to the College’s Strategy Committee, which in turn reports directly to the College’s Governing Body.
The Group has developed a list of projects that the College is working on to improve the sustainability of its operations. Its emphasis has been on evidence-based practical steps the College can take. The Group has discussed and made suggestions on a variety of ways the College can reduce its environmental impact and contribute towards a sustainable future. In this purpose, it is supported by the Green Impact Team, which meets regularly to work on making Exeter College more sustainable. The Group meets termly to monitor progress and consider further recommendations. Areas the Group has considered include energy, waste, biodiversity, food, travel and transportation, investments, and carbon offsets.
The Working Group recommended to the College’s Strategy Committee that the main priorities for 2022/23 should be:
- Energy and water savings
- Carbon accounting
- Long-term building decarbonisation plans
- Waste reductions
- Acquiring an electric van to replace the existing diesel van used by the maintenance team
- Achieving silver status in the Green Impact scheme
