UWE Climate Act of 2007

Following is the slate of motions known together as the “UWE Climate Crisis Response Act of 2007″ that went to the UWE Student Union AGM on November 29th, 2007. The transport and energy efficiency motions passed unanimously but the aviation motion crashed and burned (pun intended) on an 83-42 vote. Aviation truly is the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. “Sure we want to deal with climate change, but Don’t take away my Easyjet!” But we ain’t gonna avoid catastrophic climate change without cutting aviation by 90% or more.

The transition UWE motion and the ethical investment motions will be heard at the next activities council. Thanks to all who supported this initiative.
University’s Aviation Policy

This Union Notes:

o that climate change is a serious and growing threat, and road and air transport are the fastest growing sources of carbon dioxide in the UK. (see note 1)

o That Britons are the world’s biggest carbon emitters from aviation on a per capita basis (see note 2)

o that travel by aeroplane releases ten times the greenhouse gas emissions per passenger as travel by train or coach. (See note 3)

This Union Believes:

o that there exist viable rail, coach, and ferry alternatives to aviation to reach anywhere in Europe

o that encouraging students and staff to travel by train, ferry, or coach can result in significant reductions in planet warming emissions, compared with the flight alternative, reducing the University’s overall carbon footprint.

This Union resolves:

o to refrain from financially contributing to short haul flights within Europe, and to lobby the University to refrain from reimbursing short haul flights within Europe for students and staff.

Proposer: Sofia Gradin
Seconder: Joshua Hart

Note 1:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_vehicle

Note 2:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/10/carbonemissions.travelnews

Note 3:

http://www.seat61.com/CO2flights.htm

Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Motion

This Union Notes:

o that over 1 million square km of the Arctic ice cap melted in summer 2007, a tenfold increase over the rate of melting in previous years, and a worrying confirmation of the UN’s findings that humans are ‘very likely’ to be the cause of observed warming as a result of our massive fossil fuel energy consumption. (note 1)

o That wasteful devices such as incandescent lightbulbs, leaf blowers, and patio heaters have viable and sensible alternatives that use far less energy, such as compact fluorescent and LED lightbulbs, rakes, and winter coats.

This Union believes:

o University should adhere to its adopted environmental policy, and “minimise its impact on climate change by conserving energy, reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and promoting sustainable travel.”

This Union Resolves:

o to lobby the University to prohibit outdoor patio heaters and leaf blowers, and to phase out all incandescent light bulbs on all its campuses by the start of the 2008- 09 school year and replace with fluorescent and led bulbs

o to lobby the University to set Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction targets as part of its environmental policy and report annually to the Student Union AGM on progress meeting these reduction targets.

Proposer: Joshua Hart
Seconder: Lisa Tozer

Note 1: http://www.carbonequity.info/PDFs/Arctic.pdf

Ethical and Social Responsibility Investment and Purchasing Policy

This Union Notes:

· That climate change is a serious and growing threat and the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and gas are a major contributor.

· Thousands of people are killed, injured, raped, and forced to flee from their homes as a result of the unregulated global arms trade.

This Union believes:

· The University and this student union should be socially responsible in its business interactions and investments.

· The University should recognize that the purchasing decisions carried out across the campuses carry environmental implications and should seek to procure goods and services in an ethical manner.

This Union Resolves:

- not to invest in unethical companies (i.e. companies that invest in oil and gas, arms trade etc) and encourage investment in companies with good governance and responsible management.

· To lobby the University not to invest in unethical companies (i.e. companies that invest in oil and gas, arms trade etc) and encourage investment in companies with good governance and responsible management.

· To lobby the University not to promote or sell the goods and/or services of those companies known to contribute to climate change or other unethical practices.

Transition University UWE

This Union Notes:

• that peak production of oil and gas threatens current levels of energy consumption and dependence on a global scale, with potentially profound impacts for human societies.
• The most recent IPCC 4th Assessment report highlights the pressing need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels or risk mass extinctions and increased climate related disasters
o Transition towns and cities are acting now, all over the UK and abroad, to transition away from dependence on fossil fuels and toward a healthy, resilient, and sustainable future.
• Bristol has a growing Transition movement, involving local groups within the city seeking to find community solutions to global energy problems.
• UWE has a vibrant and progressive academic base of faculty, staff and students with knowledge and skills relevant to finding positive solutions to energy security.

This Union Believes:

•The peaking of global oil supply, and its effect on theavailability of resources, food and transport is a global issue and we should be preparing for it both on a global and local scale.
• UWE should set an example and become a hub for information and education to the wider Bristol community by adopting ‘transition status’ on all campuses.
• There are great opportunities to create bonds with local groups, students and the wider public and to begin build skills and knowledge relevant to increasing resilience within our community.

This Union Resolves:

• To dedicate stafftime to Transition UWE and to lobby the university body to adopt ‘transition status’
• To create and actively support a dedicated volunteer working group aimed at informing and educating the UWE community on the energy crisis and the concept of transition.
• To support and advertise once monthly events for transition UWE. Eg, film screenings, skill workshops and talks.
• To actively attempt to forge links with the wider Bristol community, specifically the transition movement, to share knowledge, speakers and resources.

Proposer: Lewis Winks
Seconder: Ysanne Friend

Multi-Modal Transport Improvement/ Climate Protection Motion

This Union Notes:

o that many students experience difficulty with transport to and from UWE’s campuses due to traffic and parking congestion, inadequate public transport, and substandard cycle and pedestrian facilities.

o that climate change is a serious and growing threat, and road and air transport are the fastest growing sources of carbon dioxide in the UK. (note 1)

This Union Believes:

o that UWE has a responsibility to reduce its emissions from these sources, and that more can and should be done to make public transport, walking and cycling viable choices to get to and from UWE campuses.

o that the University should provide adequate parking for those who need it, by pursuing a policy of demand management (see note 2), while allowing students and staff the flexibility of paying for parking on a daily or weekly basis. The current system is causing much frustration at UWE.

o that students who don’t drive to UWE’s campuses should not be required to pay for car park facilities through their student fees and taxes. (see note 3)

This Union Resolves:

o to lobby the University and relevant agencies to lower the cost and improve the frequency of public transport, and to work toward bicycle access on buses

o to lobby the University and relevant agencies to provide covered cycle parking and repair facilities on its campuses, offer free cycle training to students and staff, and maintain the existing bicycle/ pedestrian pathway from Lockleaze to Frenchay Campus

o to lobby the University to pursue a policy of demand management with regard to parking and traffic to ensure that adequate parking is available for those who need it, drivers are able to pay for parking daily, and everyone is charged fairly according to the costs of their mode of transport.

o That next time it surveys the student population on transport issues it will solicit the opinions of all UWE students, whether they drive, take the bus, walk, or cycle.

Proposer: Joshua Hart
Seconder: Lewis Winks

Note 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_vehicle

Note 2: Transport Demand Management (TDM, also called Mobility Management) is a general term for strategies that result in more efficient use of transportation resources. See http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/ for more information.

Footnote 3: One policy that contributes to UWE’s high carbon emissions is a massive subsidy that encourages people to drive to campus alone. The Frenchay campus maintains about 2200 spaces of car parking. It has been estimated that every parking space costs the University over £450 a year, which includes maintenance, administration, and value of the land. It costs students only £15 annually for a permit. The rest of the funding comes from student fees and taxes, making driving appear less expensive than it actually is, distorting transport choice and harming the environment.

“Free” parking is never actually free- the costs are included in everything we buy, whether one drives or not. These hidden subsidies exist everywhere from Asda to Hewlett Packard, and unjustifiably force non-drivers to pay for parking as well. These subsidies act like ‘fertility drugs for cars’ writes Donald Shoup, a planning professor from University of California LA who has a popular new book on the topic: The High Cost of Free Parking