Environmental and Sustainability Working Group

Purpose

The purpose of the Environmental and Sustainability Working Group (ESWG) is to promote, advise and recommend to the University Court, the necessary policies and procedures that Queen Margaret University (QMU) is required to produce, and to ensure that QMU has a formalised environmental and sustainable organisational structure in place.

Terms of Reference

The ESWG reports to Court through the Principal as convener of the Strategic Management Group. The Court will play a proactive role in overseeing the development of environmental management systems and procedures. The ESWG will:

• Advise Court on the implementation of University environmental and sustainable procedures.
• Advise Senate, through the Educational Policy Committee, on academic aspects of the curriculum.
• Lead QMU in achieving an environmental management system that would meet the accreditation criteria of IS014001, and to help deliver continued improvement.
• Raise environmental and sustainable awareness amongst staff and students at QMU.
• Identify key Environmental Performance Indicators in the environmental strategy.
• Develop and maintain a register of applicable environmental legislation and a procedure for identifying new legislative requirements.
• Help prepare an annual review of environmental management at QMU in order to comply with the ISO14001 standard.
• Develop the role of environmental management in the curriculum.
• Promote sustainability in QMU at every level.
• Develop appropriate projects and initiatives with the QMU community and develop stronger links with East Lothian community in order to share good ideas and practice.

Membership

Vice Principal and University Secretary (Convener)
Business and Research Support Advisor (Secretary)
Director of Estates and Facilities
Sustainable Travel Co-ordinator
Academic staff representative (Eurig Scandrett, Michelle Hipwell, Oonagh O'Brien, Carol Brennan and Anne-Marie Conway)
Senior HR Advisor
Chief Technician, School of Health Sciences
Catering and Retail Services Manager
Student Vice President
Environment & Ethics Officer
EAUC – Scotland Manager
EAUC – Scotland Project Officer

Environmental Policy Statement

Queen Margaret University acknowledges the impacts of its activities on the environment at a local, national and global level. The ESWG has produced an environmental policy statement that highlights its commitment to developing a sustainable community for learning and life.

Green Shoots Newsletter

Communication is vital to developing the understanding of what it means to be part of a green university and to help individuals play their part in reducing carbon emissions, looking after the environment and developing more socially responsible lifestyles.

The Green Shoots newsletter is issued about 3 times a year and is presented in a very accessible and easy to read magazine style.

Green Shoots Sept 2008

Green Shoots Feb 2009

Green Shoots May 2009

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