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Climate Crisis: Easter Switch-Off Campaign

It is that time of the year again that we all look forward to celebrating Easter with our friends, families, and loved ones, which means that our campuses would become less active.
See how this affects and involves you.

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It is that time of the year again that we all look forward to celebrating Easter with our friends, families, and loved ones, which means that our campuses would become less active. We see this as another opportunity to significantly reduce energy wastage across our campuses.

 

We are aware that the energy used across our campuses accounts for 76% of our carbon footprint and our greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and GHG are the causes of climate change. As part of our commitment to respond to the challenges associated with climate change, we have over the last 18 months invested approximately £3 million on energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects across our UK campuses. These projects will contribute to the delivery of our six-year, 30% carbon reduction target and long-term net zero aspiration.

 

We are appealing to all members of our community (staff and students) not to be by-standers in the collective fight against climate change. Therefore, as part of our preparation for the Easter closure, we should all ensure that by close of business on Thursday 14 April 2022 that:

  • Close all windows
  • Switch off lights in empty all offices, lecture and meeting rooms
  • Switch-off all portable electric heaters
  • Switch off Air conditioning units
  • The radiators of all gas heaters are turned down

The reason why we are appealing to everyone to be involved in our “Easter Switch-off” campaign is because climate change is the greatest threat to the environment and humanity. The projected impacts of GHG emissions continuing in the current trend across Europe are that by 2030:

  • The number of people affected by flooding would increase from 160,000 per annum to 290,000 per year
  • The economic damage to private homes, infrastructure and industry could double
  • Forest fires could burn an area of 800,000 hectares
  • Heat-related deaths could rise to circa of 200,000

 

Therefore, every action that contribute to reducing and eliminating energy wastage will certainly reduce the consequences of climate change.

 

For further information about good energy practices and to share your contribution to stopping energy wastage and reduce GHG emissions, contact us at sustainability@qmul.ac.uk

 

 

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