Sustainability & Environment at LSTM

LSTM is a centre of research excellence on global health challenges that affect some of the most disadvantaged communities in the world, and given our mission, we have an obligation to advocate for change and be a leading force in the fight against climate change.

Our policy on sustainability and environment can be accessed here and the infographic below illustrates some of our key targets. This policy is reviewed by Management Committee and updated annually.

We are a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and details of how we are supporting the Principles in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption can be found here.

The People and Planets Survey is one means by which Higher Education Institutes are evaluated on their sustainability efforts. Our poor ranking (as a failed institute, along with many other smaller HEIs) in the 2021 People and Planet’s Survey is disappointing. Whilst not denying that we have much work to do to ensure sustainability is embedded in all our activities, the score does not reflect the recent renewed commitment to tackle the climate crisis. We note that our low score is in part due to lack of publicly accessible data in the HESA Estates Returns; as a small HEI, we have not had the resources to submit this voluntary data in recent years which negatively impacted our score. We will review this decision in 2022, in addition to continuing to move forward with our action plan.

Our Sustainability and Environmental Committee is co-chaired by the Head of Estates (Kevin Stewart) and the Dean of Research Culture and Sustainability (Hilary Ranson).

Sustainability and Environment Committee (SEC)

LSTM set-up the Sustainability and Environment Committee (SEC) in January 2021. SEC has broad representation across the school’s departments and career stages and is responsible for the development and implementation of environmental sustainability across LSTM ensuring an integrated, proactive approach to environmental sustainability that is informed by best practice, and aligns with our values, objectives and strategy.

SEC works in close partnership with other parts of LSTM governance structures and reports to LSTMs management committee. SEC includes representation from four environmental working groups, each of which are open to all LSTM staff and students.

Reducing our carbon footprint

The Carbon/Travel Group was established to look at ways to reduce LSTM’s carbon footprint, with a particular focus on opportunities for change that will reduce the energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.

Find out more about or activities

Green Labs

Members of SEC have produced a Green Lab Guide. This includes the key focuses of Laboratory waste, Energy and equipment and Procurement and includes easy to use checklist of suggestions which can be implemented within lab groups, printable signs/infographics and an associated green labs pledge.

Biodiversity

We aim to work locally and globally with internal and external stakeholders to increase, maintain, enhance, and adapt biodiversity across the estate.
We are developing a Biodiversity Action Plan that sets out a clear plan to increase, maintain, enhance and adapt biodiversity across the estate where it is feasible, and represents value for money.
We consider, where feasible, economically sound and practical , green spaces in all our operations and future developments that support, maintain and enhance increasing biodiversity, and which are developed in accordance with biodiversity design principles to provide well-being spaces as well as educational and volunteering opportunities.

While LSTM’s Biodiversity review is upcoming, the school has conducted environmental risk assessments as part of projects funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Environmental sustainability in estates management

Sustainability in building developments is a complex subject that must be considered from the earliest stages as the potential environmental impacts can be significant.

Once it has been decided to build a new building, as opposed to, e.g changing working practices or refurbishing an existing building, a very significant commitment to consume resources has already been made. Designers and contractors may be able to help limit that consumption, but they cannot change the overall commitment.

LSTM will refer to its environmental policy, that sets out an overall sustainability vision, as well as any detailed objectives and targets.

Find out more about our progress

Sustainability within our Education & Student engagement

The Department of Education can provide a focal support within LSTM in engaging staff and students on the matters of sustainability and environment.

Our plans for sustainability within Education include, first of all, exploring opportunities for our students to engage with sustainable development and to empower them to take actions. However, we realise that we need to learn more ourselves and, as often happens in education, learn from our students. Therefore, in terms of supporting this development, we think it is important to provide an active platform and safe discussion space, where staff and students can openly engage and share values from a range of perspectives and their understanding of environmental problems and solutions. We will also aim inviting influential speakers and promoting students’ projects.

Integrating sustainable development into the traditional curriculum is another avenue. Some modules are already built around sustainability, Climate Change for example, and other could have topics on sustainable development issues incorporated.

Students engagement is inseparable from our sustainability goals. Students are encouraged to join the EWG and we will carry out surveys and focus groups discussions to explore students views on sustainability in LSTM, existing initiatives and those, which are currently being developed, as well as suggestions for new practices and activities. The results will be used as a foundation for discussions and other actions as outlined in “Sustainability in our education”

Workers' Rights

Living wage

It is LSTM policy that all staff working for LSTM are paid above the living wage, including HERA graded staff, and all staff working onsite through our external contractors.

Modern Slavery

LSTM works towards building a strong foundation to work from to contribute to the global fight against slavery and human trafficking. Further information on our contribution to the global fight against slavery and human trafficking can be found here.