Resilient Futures zine by University of London

Contents

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Foreword by Charles Joly and Ellie Cottrell

Breaking with the Status Quo: what will it take?

Declassified Pandemic Survival Guide

New systems for a better world

Science Policy and Crises

Environmental Engagement During a pandemic

Lockdown Reflections

Recipe: Zero Waste Veggie Balls

How to reduce your packaging waste

Sustainability in Practice

LSE’s Sustainability Research Podcast

We Need a Blue New Deal

Green Impact: staff-led sustainability at LSE

The Balance

my eyes turn to the sky each day

Welcome to the Resilient Futures zine! This project draws together the perspectives of LSE students, staff and others in the University of London community, as we reflect on sustainability in times of crisis. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK and the rest of the world in the spring of 2020, reality as we knew it changed overnight. The Sustainable LSE and the Reduce the Juice teams had planned to spend the rest of the academic year working with students on the ground to encourage sustainable behaviour change at university, but we quickly realised that it would be impossible for us to come together in person. Instead, we decided to reach out to the university community, and to create a zine exploring how environmental engagement and climate action can still be carried out even in times of turmoil and physical separation.

Inside back and back cover photography: Vera Vrijmoeth The Resilient Futures Zine was created by Reduce the Juice from the University of London, in collaboration with Sustainable LSE. It was edited by Cat Acheson and designed by Antonia Bailey. Follow us on social media:

@reducejuice

Whether it’s through questioning how the COVID-19 pandemic prepares us to tackle climate change, or through cooking, creating and finding new ways to connect in the sudden stillness of lockdown, sustainability provides us with a framework for navigating this crisis, and helps us look to the future for a better, more resilient world. We hope you enjoy this collection of think-pieces, creative writing, and sustainability stories. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our contributors, and we hope to see you back on campus soon! Cat

@Reduce_Juice /@SustainableLSE @reduce.juice /@SustainableLondonSchoolofEconomics E: sustainability@london.ac.uk

Foreword by Charles Joly and Ellie Cottrell Thank you to all our contributors, Cat, and Antonia for making this beautiful sustainability themed Zine a reality. What struck me most about the Zine, is the sheer diversity of people and perspectives it brought together. Turning the clock back to my student days, climate change was taught in my environmental course but was never a mainstream topic. Over my career I have witnessed a monumental rise in awareness. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sustainability communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is broad and diverse: from sustainability professionals to eco-activists, from obsessive home recyclers to flexitarians, and many more. We are all joined by a simple idea: that our planet needs some TLC. And more and more people are hearing us and joining in. Whether you are an artist or a scientist, a student or a professional, young or old, no matter what course you study or career you chose: you can be a force for change for the planet. Now more than ever is the time to spread a message of hope for a sustainable and resilient future! Charles Joly, Head of Sustainability at LSE

Thank you to all the contributors and the editors, Cat and Antonia, for putting this Zine together! Having students and staff come together during a time of hardship, bringing their own creative outlets and inspirational sustainability stories to create such an engaging collection of work, is inspiring and refreshing. In a time where activists are calling for change in a post-pandemic world, this zine on sustainability is pertinent more than ever at this critical fork in the road, between following the status quo or redefining a green new outlook. The question of what needs to be done is one shared by those eco-minded, and manifests in many ways, as seen in the work in this zine, such as artistic expression through photography and poetry, to informative pieces on reducing plastic consumption and the need for a Blue New Deal. Seeing not only a diversity of people represented in this zine but also a diversity of thinking and expression is truly humbling, and I am excited for the year ahead to be working with such passionate individuals to hopefully foster and further these visions of sustainability at LSE. Ellie Cottrell, Environment and Ethics Officer LSESU 2020-2021

Artist: Teri Anderson

Breaking with the Status Quo: what will it take? Heidi Zamzow Every crisis is an opportunity, or so they say. Being shaken out of one’s comfortable equilibrium can overcome the inertial barriers which thwart positive change. Behavioural science refers to this barrier as “the status quo” bias – we tend to do what we’ve always done, and change is generally perceived as too difficult or risky. When it comes to overcoming this bias, timing is everything. As we begin to emerge from this period of instability and uncertainty, we look for signs of what “the new normal” will be and how we’ll fit in. As social learners, humans instinctively seek cues from those with whom we identify (e.g., family, friends, neighbours, colleagues), admire or respect (e.g., celebrities, authority figures, organisations and governments). Research on social norms reveals that our behaviours are motivated not necessarily by what we think we should do, but by what we believe others believe is the right thing that we should do. “Who is seen doing what and when” will be critical, because we draw conclusions about the beliefs of others by what we observe.

A common refrain I am hearing within groups working on sustainability is that we need to “build back better”, implying that we just need to improve, to make a few adjustments to our societal blueprint to make it more sustainable and equitable. Instead, I believe we need a paradigm shift. We need a new narrative – one that requires us to fundamentally re-evaluate our relationship with nature and all living things. Covid-19 has taught us a harsh lesson about what happens when we transgress natural boundaries, but it is nothing compared to the threat of climate change. At the same time, the pandemic created a window of opportunity by demonstrating that, under exigent circumstances, we are capable of tremendous and almost instantaneous behaviour change – even to the point of sacrificing individual freedoms. Science tells us what is necessary to avert the climate catastrophe; citizens and leaders alike now need to embrace this vision of what is possible. We don’t need to just build back better, we need to build back bolder.

Policymakers, as representatives of the electorate, also send powerful cues about societal norms when they enact new standards and regulations. They will be the primary architects of the “new normal.” Behavioural science has proven that our decisions and actions will be strongly influenced by our environment, as well as social norms. Unless that environment is changed in structural and significant ways – for instance, replacing fast food outlets with local farmstands, or removing car lanes and replacing them with convenient bus and bike routes – we are most likely to return to old habits which formed to begin with because they were easier, faster, more affordable or more pleasurable ways of meeting our needs.

Declassified Pandemic Survival Guide Yago Evangelista Ten years after H1N1 we’re facing one more pandemic crisis, but this time the expectation is that we are facing the deadliest disease since Spanish Flu. At the same time, we have watched a rise of governments discrediting science and being supported by fake news, such as Trump, Orban, Erdogan, Bolsonaro, Modi. I’m writing this Survival Guide not only supported by my own experience dealing with the Brazilian government, but also looking at the global media news about the worst decisions made by global leaders in this pandemic. So here are some tips on how to survive a deadly virus and the worst global leaders at same time.

2nd tip: If possible, stay at home. Since we still do not have a vaccine, or any kind of proven treatment, the better way to defeat the virus is by social distancing and staying at home. At this moment we can see a lot of people around the world protesting for the end of quarantine, even the Brazilian and American President.

1st tip: Don’t buy easy solutions.

It’s reasonable to be concerned about your job, how you will pay your rent and buy food, but we must pressure our governments into sustainable actions, like basic income, and a freeze on residential rent increases. It makes me think about how important social networks are in political movements. Since we can’t go outside, how we do mobilize together?

Tractors, herbs, vodka, saunas, inject disinfectant, tea, sugarcane juice and chicken soup. Often some leaders would suggest some easy, but useless, ways out of this crisis.

Creating online support networks is a way out of this situation without risking our lives. Right-wing groups did this organically over the years, so now we should do the same.

The thing is, if they think the solution is that easy, the public politics fighting the crisis by demanding better public policy will probably not be enough. Fortunately, some countries, as Brazil and the USA, are federative republics, that maintain a certain level of independence between states, cities and federal government, and some cities and states are making hard policies during the crisis.

3rd tip: we’re not the virus, please stop repeating this. Ok, this is not coming from any government, as far as I know, but we shouldn’t buy into this ecofascist rhetoric so easily. I would love to write another series of tips here on how to survive this quarantine, but in fact, I still don’t quite know how to survive it either. But hopefully we can get through it despite our leaders, and come out of it safe and well.

We should take this lead: decisions shouldn’t be made only by a central government. Pulverizing power is the better way, so that the power doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. And more importantly, believe only in science for a cure, don’t drink disinfectant!

New systems for a better world Georgi Kirkov Will yet another opportunity (not that any other time does not represent such an ‘opportunity’) to reflect on a deeper level upon our actions as humans be missed? Do we even care (what is the incentive, right?)? Even if we care to an extent, can we actually manage to focus and think hard about this, or are we simply too distracted? How did we get ‘here’? I believe I am far from the best human I can be. Maybe some of you feel a similar way? Aren’t the people that our societies ‘create’ their most important ‘creation’, on which everything else we ‘create’ is dependent? If so, are we exerting ‘a good enough effort’ to improve ourselves? I am unsure whether the vast majority of, if not all, human societies are moving in the ‘right direction’. I don’t want to accept that humankind is incapable of treating one another distinctly better and cannot be a fundamentally better cohabitant of the Earth.

If we accept that things are not working optimally and sustainably, why don’t we experiment (initially, maybe in small pockets around the world) with different systems? How can we possibly be certain that alternative systems won’t turn out ‘better’ than the ones human societies have come up with so far? I strongly believe that there will be a sufficient number of volunteers who would gladly participate in the ‘testing’ of such systems. Of course, such experiments may not produce ‘desirable outcomes’. However, don’t the potential benefits outweigh the costs? One might say, ‘the way humans are cannot change simply by designing new systems to live in.’ Two responses to this could be: firstly, how can we be absolutely sure about this? Secondly, since we don’t understand how consciousness (I like to think of it as the prism through which we understand/ perceive our ‘surroundings’ (if we assume we are ‘something’ separate)) works, how can we possibly prove the aforementioned statement?

Science Policy and Crises Emily Douglas As the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded, the relationship between science and policy has become more relevant than ever. There is pressure for the production of accurate scientific knowledge to create informed policy, however the relationship is rarely simple or linear. The UK government has emphasised that they have used ‘the best science available’ for creating policy – does such a thing exist? Or is it simply science that best matches their own political beliefs? This is hardly the first time this phenomenon has existed – the interface of science and policy has been contested in climate change for decades, demonstrating a need to evaluate the relationship between them. Science is often presented in stasis – it is objective, un-changing and without bias. However, this is certainly not the case, both in relation to Covid-19 and the climate crisis. In the production of knowledge itself, different methodologies, theoretical approaches and underlying philosophies are used, especially in subjects as broad and complex as health and climate crises, which can generate debate in these communities. Science is produced by individuals with differing interests, as well as career pressures – everyone wants to produce the science that informs policy. This may generate subtle biases, and, in extreme cases, has led to malpractice (such as the infamous ‘Climategate’ scandal). If the science itself is not apolitical, its use in policy is always a political choice. For example, SAGE (the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) may seek advice on how to prevent certain scenarios such as economic slowdown, and seek scientific advice with this policy in mind, rather than review the science before creation of policy.

What politicians prioritise relates to their own agenda – some argue the late move into lockdown was done in the hope of preserving the economy in relation to Covid-19, while for neoliberal, conservative governments in the West, the overhaul of energy infrastructure represents state investment that doesn’t match their beliefs. Science can be used as a means for achieving political goals; acting as an ‘objective’ justification. Another similarity can be noticed between the need to address intersectional inequalities presented by both crises. Studies indicate that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK are more likely to die from Coronavirus, which can be attributed to structural racism. This greater degree of vulnerability was, and continues to be, overlooked in the handling of the crisis, with many models failing to account for racial disparities in death tolls. Likewise, the IPCC’s report in October 2018 stated we have 12 years to limit the effects of climate change, however many areas of the world are much more vulnerable, and will face climate departure (irreversible, significant climate changes) far earlier, such as the cities of Malé, Kingston and Lagos. Therefore, it is imperative that we do not consider policy as ‘one-size-fits-all’, and instead acknowledge the vulnerabilities of different groups, in both the production of science itself, but also in the subsequent policy modelled on it. There is a myth that climate change is the ‘Great Equalizer’, as it is a global issue that affects everyone. The same could be said for the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this is far from the truth – as the effects are disproportionate to certain groups, it will be anything but equal.

Environmental Engagement During a pandemic Catherine Porter and Anjila Hjasted Catherine Porter and Anjila Hjalsted are the elected Environment Officers at Goodenough College, a postgraduate hall of residence in London. In March, they organised Goodenough College’s ‘Environmental Week’, and put together a programme of events and talks about environmental sustainability. However, the week coincided with the acceleration of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK, right before the beginning of the lockdown. Here, they talk about how the pandemic impacted their attempts to engage students on environmental issues.

sustainability), everything was cancelled at the last minute. This didn’t give us very long to organise virtual events. We did manage to run an online documentary screening of David Attenborough’s ‘The Truth About Climate Change – Part Two’ from 2008, followed by a discussion. We were pleased that six members managed to attend despite the sudden upheaval caused by coronavirus, and we spoke about how old the documentary was and therefore how long we have known about climate change and its devastating consequences, but how little has changed since then.

Catherine: I decided to apply to be an Environment Officer at Goodenough College because the environment has always been very important to me. I realise that damage to it is one of the biggest threats facing us today, and requires whatever we can do to help. I had lots of ideas about what could be done at Goodenough in order to become a more sustainable community, so I wanted to take on the role to put forward my ideas.

Anjila: We had really prepared a lot of great events for the Environmental Week, even including a trip to the waste recycling facility that handles our recycling, which I had been super excited about and we had about 20 members signed up for. I hope some of this can happen next year during Environmental Week instead! But this year we still managed to create awareness around the week and the environment despite the pandemic, which I think must count as a success!

Anjila: I feel much the same way as Catherine about this. I applied because I wanted to inform and empower members at GC to take action and be able to make more environmentally sustainable choices. Also, I thought it would be a good way to engage with and contribute to the GC community, which it really has been. Catherine: Running Environmental Week during the pandemic was a bit disappointing but we were pleased with what we managed to achieve despite the situation. We released a video and had a very successful launch event, in which we gave out vegan cake and got a large number of members to take vegetarian and vegan pledges for the week. However, after the first event on Monday, (a vegan dinner and stall at which students could discuss diet and

Catherine: We found that students were still interested and wanted to engage, but because of the circumstances fewer people attended our online event than we were expecting in person. Whilst there are more urgent matters that the government, media and public have to focus their attention on, I was surprised and happy to find environmental issues were still being discussed and thought about by people and in the media during the pandemic. It was interesting to see how the worldwide lockdown and changes in our lifestyles led to such a quick and positive impact on the environment. This gives me a lot of hope for the future if we can make some lasting changes such as working from home more often and travelling less where possible.

Residents at Goodenough College with their vegetarian and vegan pledges during Environmental Week, March 2020.

Lockdown Reflections Tishara Rajagopal How the time passes, and how you should pass the time Before lockdown measures were introduced in London, but just when panic seemed to have spread overnight, my friends were having an upsetting conversation in our group chat. A birthday celebration had moved from dinner at a comedy club to potluck in a flat. We sat debating whether we should meet at all, hoping for the best, but knowing it would be a while before we saw each other again: “i am not sure whether going out and gathering with people is the wisest thing to do at the moment. i really dont know.” “breaks my heart to think that that means i won’t see u guys” “i think we cannot give ourselves a choice” “i want to be able to use this opportunity before it’s gone :(“

We decided not to go, to serve everyone’s best interests, but a sweet Zoom call dinner party ended in tears and disbelief. The days that followed were a series of confused answers to difficult questions about where in the world would be safest. Over time, in the face of uncertainty, I found comfort in new routines of online classes and daily check-ins with friends and family. I was embarrassed to say I was moderately thriving despite having my present and immediate future taken away. But I was! I invested in a guitar, practiced yoga, participated in weekly game nights, and worked productively during the day. A few more birthdays down the line, and it came time to celebrate mine. I baked a carrot cake, hosted an elaborate pub quiz, and stepped onto my rooftop to see the sun finally set on a long, fulfilling spring day. I probably wouldn’t have invited my friends from different time zones to celebrate with me if all of this hadn’t happened. It was special to have my childhood friends on call with the ones I met a few months ago: “looooved the quiz i learnt so much!!!” “was vying for first place :(“ “haha it was a hard quiz though like damn some questions were specific but i had a lot of fun”

briefing would bring about. Today, I wake up to the stale fact of knowing exactly what I must do until I get back into bed, and reject the habits I once cherished. This probably isn’t the best self-help advice you’ve heard of late, and you probably didn’t ask to listen to another pandemic-related complaint. I am looking forward to something though. It’s a sneaky, warm feeling that creeps up on you in the evening once you realise you had a day that felt normal. Or if you’re lucky, one that felt pretty great. The moment of appreciating that you, and we as human beings, can persevere, get creative, and ameliorate our situations, is something that I am really looking forward to.

I discovered, annoyingly, a new phase of this experience. I was told to stick to a routine and find something to look forward to each day. I did just that and flourished. I managed to produce moments of joy and pride out of something that seemed bleak and miserable. But that’s turned into something I dread. It’s frustrating to find that there’s a narrow separation between comfort and banality. It’s ironic that last month what I dreaded was not knowing what the next day would look like, and anticipated a rapid succession of changes that a press

Reflecting and reimagining consumption I often take a moment to reflect on the fact that we are living through monumental history. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted billions of lives and will undoubtedly shape the decades to come. What mildly awkward gesture for greeting acquaintances will replace the handshake? Does the concept of personal space finally make its way to the London Underground? Is banana bread the unanimous superior bread? Without minimizing the devastating losses people are facing, there is an anticipation for seeing this crisis through, and the changes that will come with it.

This is a moment of learning and evaluation for individuals, organizations, and governments. We cannot, and should not, return to ‘business as usual’. A group of academics from the Netherlands have proposed reforms they deem necessary to resuscitate national economies. These policies highlight a ‘de-growth’ approach which will serve to make businesses more sustainable. Sociologists and environmental scientists often emphasize the role of consumers in the system of supply and demand to limit harmful, wasteful, and luxurious consumption. The increasing circulation of goods and people, marked by travel-and shopping-oriented lifestyles, brings about increasing ecological and inequality issues — lifestyles that are now unthinkable during a global lockdown.

Despite baking a fortnightly cake, I have experienced my life stripped down to the bare minimum. I barely go outside, barely shop, and barely exercise â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the last one a troubling combination with the baked goods. Nonetheless, this is an incredible exercise for those of us who have the privilege of luxury and excess to indulge in. I would have loved a summer of travelling across Europe, and taken that over the daily commute from my bed to my desk. However, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s given me the space to recognize and be thankful for my comforts, and also to think about what I value going forward.

Re-evaluating our consumption as individuals and societies is a solid foundation for rebuilding sustainable lifestyles. By focusing on redistribution policies, conserving and consuming local products, and prioritising universal health, social, and environmental systems, the period of restoration after the pandemic can be the start of an incredible revolution.

Recipe: Zero Waste Veggie Balls Heinin Zhang When lockdown began in the UK and around the world, supermarkets ran low on essential ingredients. As shoppers rushed to stock up on pasta, flour and tinned food, this sudden change in purchasing behaviour exposed the weaknesses of our ‘just-in-time’ food supply chain. Faced with these shortages, many of us have had to get inventive in the kitchen to make our ingredients go further, and to ensure that nothing goes to waste. Heinin Zhang graduated from LSE with a degree in Philosophy and Economics in 2014, and is the co-founder of ‘Yhangry’, a start-up food business which aims to maximise quality time over great food whilst minimising food waste. In this recipe, Heinin shares a perfect solution for using up those tasty odds-and-ends like breadcrumbs and broccoli stalks, which all too often end up in the bin. This recipe for Zero Waste Veggie Balls shows that we can do so much more with what’s in our kitchens than we might realise.

Method Ingredients based on four portions

1. Whisk the aquafaba

• 2 tbsp aquafaba (water from canned chickpeas or beans)

2. Add all the leftover vegetables and beans into a food processor and use the pulse function until everything is chopped finely

• 2 tbsp olive oil • Any leftover vegetables, especially stalks of broccoli, cabbage, beetroot, potato etc. • Any beans or other pulses • Breadcrumbs • Oil spray • Spices: cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper

3. Mix the processed veg with the aquafaba and combine, adding spices 4. Use hands to form golf-sized bites – shape them with pressure so that they stick together 5. If the texture is too wet, add some flour or breadcrumbs to the mix 6. Put breadcrumbs into a small bowl and coat the veggie balls with breadcrumbs before placing them onto a baking tray 7. Spray or brush the veggie balls with some oil and bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees

Photo: Heinin Zhang

How to reduce your packaging waste Martina Beleva Martina Beleva is the Waste and Resources Officer in LSE’s Estates Division, and is part of the Sustainable LSE team. As we reflect on how we can live more sustainably on our planet, Martina shares her top tips for reducing packaging waste by switching

to reusable and packaing-free alternatives. Not sure where to buy some of these items? Check out the website: zerowastenear.me to find your local zero waste shop!

How to reduce your packaging waste? Some context Each year over 10 million tonnes of packaging waste is generated by UK industry, commerce and households. Not recycling costs the UK £78 million a year. Worldwide 1 million plastic bags and 1 million plastic bottles are sold every minute. Reducing and reusing is the best way to minimise your packaging waste.

Did you know? •

Nearly half of all plastic ever manufactured has been made since 2000.

What you can do •

Soap and shampoo bars are compact, so they produce fewer emissions during transport than their liquid equivalents. They are usually sold in very little to no packaging.

•

Reusable facial pads are machine washable and you can use them for hundreds of times to wash your face or remove make-‐up.

•

Preparing food and bringing it to campus 18 in your own box reduces packaging waste as well as your costs.

•

Tote bags are an easy way to reduce the amount of plastic you use.

generated by UK industry, commerce and households. Not recycling costs the UK £78 million a year. Worldwide 1 million plastic bags and 1 million plastic bottles are sold every minute. Reducing and reusing is the best way to minimise your packaging waste.

Did you know? •

Nearly half of all plastic ever manufactured has been made since 2000.

What you can do •

Soap and shampoo bars are compact, so they produce fewer emissions during transport than their liquid equivalents. They are usually sold in very little to no packaging.

•

Reusable facial pads are machine washable and you can use them for hundreds of times to wash your face or remove make-‐up.

•

Preparing food and bringing it to campus in your own box reduces packaging waste as well as your costs.

•

Tote bags are an easy way to reduce the amount of plastic you use.

•

Carry around your reusable bottle and cup everywhere you go to ensure that you never need to use disposable ones again.

•

Single-‐use cutlery is not recyclable, so we recommend keeping a set of light reusable cutlery in your bag.

•

Most menstrual products contain plastics. The menstrual cup and washable pads can make your periods completely zero-‐waste and save you thousands of pounds.

•

Using mouthwash tablets which you can dissolve in water at home reduces the amount of emissions produced from their transportation.

•

Reusing your cleaning product spray bottles is recommended as they usually consist of a few different kinds of plastic which makes them difficult to recycle. You can use eco-‐cleaning refill drops.

•

Refillable deodorants offer a case for life and refills in various scents. Similarly refillable lipstick cases have refills available in different colours.

•

Vegetable boxes deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to your door regularly with little to no packaging. They are usually locally sourced or directly divert food from being wasted.

19 #SustainableLSE – April 2020

Sustainability in Practice Ilia Iaonnidi is Head of Communications for the LSESU Sustainable Futures Society. In this article, she outlines the importance of a proactive approach to sustainability as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduces some exciting initiatives that the Sustainable Futures Society is leading on. As you have probably heard before, COVID-19 is often referred to as a dress rehearsal for climate change. Indeed, amongst other things, they are both pandemics, posing a global threat, and demanding a global response. They are also not unrelated. The cities that have been worst affected by the virus have also been worst affected by air pollution. In this highly unsustainable situation we currently find ourselves in, environmental action is needed more than ever. It is with this urgency that the Sustainable Futures Society (SFS) was founded at the LSESU. As a leading university, we believe that we have a responsibility to be leaders in environmental sustainability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; students and staff alike. We also believe that a collaborative response is needed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; between different LSESU societies, students and staff, the LSESU and the LSE, and the university and external bodies. This is what our society has sought to do in the past, and what it will seek to do now more than ever before, through a fresh array of sustainabilityrelated events. These will include talks with leaders in sustainability, environmentally-focused seminars, fundraising challenges, hands-on action, green policy contributions, and last but not least, the Sustainable Projects Fund (SPF).

From the start, we have had a close relationship with the Estates Department, jointly facilitating the SPF. We are proud to say that, every year, we offer up to £20,000 in funds to both student-led and staffled projects that enhance sustainability at the LSE. Throughout the years, we have funded a plethora of innovative projects. One of these was the KeepCup initiative, which has been incredibly successful in reducing disposable cup usage within LSE catering. Another notable project was the Marine Society’s sailing expedition, which investigated the terrible plastic pollution in UK waters. And just this year, the Enactus Society launched a project called ‘Vita Nova’ to transform old clothing into useful tote bags. Our ambition for the academic year of 2020-2021, as well as for years to come, is that our society and the SPF truly work toward implementing the Sustainability Goals outlined in LSE’s Sustainability Strategy, ‘LSE 2030’. We invite you all to join us in doing just that! Whether you want to apply for funding for your sustainable project ideas, or get involved in our society, you are most welcome! We offer exciting opportunities that include, but are not limited to, managing a series of podcasts, planning sustainable events, and creating connections with sustainable employers. If you are interested, just contact us through one of our social media accounts, and we will respond as swiftly as possible!

Our Socials: www.sustainablefuturessocietylse.com E: s.futures@lsesu.org LSESU Sustainable Futures Society lsesu_sustainablefutures

LSE’s Sustainability Research Podcast Interview with Felix Koninx, LSE Masters student and host of an exciting new sustainability podcast. Hi Felix! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Hi! I am a Masters student at LSE, studying Environmental Policy and Regulation. I’m Dutch and Australian, but have lived around the world. Sustainability interests me because it is so far reaching and cross-cutting. Understanding it means you need to have a grasp of science, humanities, politics, finance, philosophy…so many academic fields have value to contribute. This collaboration between academic silos is what draws me in.

Why podcasts? What was it that drew you to this particular medium for exploring and sharing important ideas? I guess I was seeking a different way to engage with research, and to make public the findings, ideas and discussions happening within sustainability-related fields. We often write essays and policy briefs, but podcasts really provide a lower barrier to entry for people to engage. I also really enjoy Office Hours with Academics. Producing podcasts gives me the opportunity to chat with world leading researchers, and share their insights with a wider audience.

Who are some of the researchers you’ve spoken to on the podcast so far? Are there any that have particularly stood out to you? I’ve spoken to a few researchers at the Grantham Research Institute and the Department of Geography and the Environment. Everyone does interesting and important work, but I am especially interested in those who work at the interface between science and policy.

Who would be your dream sustainability podcast guest? That’s an excellent question. I think I would be great to have Ann Pettifor as a podcast guest. The Case For The Green New Deal was convincing when it was published in 2019, but I think in the context of COVID-19 recovery it has become even more salient.

Right now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re experiencing a period of extreme disruption and uncertainty, as the coronavirus pandemic coincides with the climate crisis. At such a strange time, what are your hopes for the future? I am hopeful that governments will use this window of opportunity to funnel stimulus packages into climate friendly and socially just policies. The form of the recovery will have a strong influence on whether we can meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. We are already seeing decarbonization conditions attached to bailouts, and vital research has already been published on recovery policies that bring benefits economically and for the climate. IPSOS Polls in April showed that the UK public supports green recovery action, I hope this continues as the realities of disruption from the pandemic become more apparent.

Where can people listen to the podcast, and are there other ways to get involved? You can find the podcasts on the LSE communications page, and on Spotify. To get involved in these debates, follow the Grantham Institute on Social Media, and sign up for Green Flash, the biweekly LSE sustainability newsletter.

We Need a Blue New Deal Interview with Grace Chapman, LSESU Marine Society president. Hi Grace! Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and why you get involved in the LSESU Marine Society? Hello! I am an International History student from Norwich. I have always lived near the ocean, and it has been central to the way I view the world, which I why I wanted to get involved in Marine Society. LSE is obviously a social sciences university, and to have the chance to get involved in a cause – ocean conservation – that too often has been confined to the natural sciences showed to me the scope we have for change. We have a unique view of how we can approach climate action, and we hope to bring that to the people of LSE.

Why is protecting our oceans so important? It is no surprise that we need immediate action to combat global heating and plastic pollution, and it is our oceans that are most affected by our actions. The ocean takes up over 70 per cent of our world and has the capacity to bring so much joy to so many. Such a large part of what we do is about having fun in, around, and on the ocean: bringing diving training to students, going on beach cleans and trips to Brighton, and collaborating with other societies to inject our message across the University. The seas unite us, and this is symbolic of the collective approach we must employ globally to protect our oceans. It is the only way we can enjoy them.

The LSESU marine society is currently working on a “Blue New Deal” manifesto. What kind of issues need to be addressed by a Blue New Deal? The Blue New Deal is a project that involves a variety of things: policy proposals, charity campaigns, wider education and engagement at the University. Our discussions and research so far have included the following topics: the issue of greenwashing oceanbased tourism, the question of overfishing, and how we can deal with plastic pollution at its source and once it is in the ocean. We are lucky to have an international and diverse group of members, both in the society and on our Blue New Deal scheme. This means that whilst UK examples provide the basis for our research, we will compare how the UK approaches issues of ocean conservation to the home countries of other participants.

The Marine Society plans to undertake a sailing expedition as part of your work exploring a Blue New Deal. Can you tell us more about this? The best way to understand the ocean is to go on it. Sailing is a unique experience out of reach to many because of its cost. We are lucky to work in collaboration with an exceptional organisation, Sail Britain, whose passion for bringing the ocean to groups dedicated to saving it has allowed us to conduct our research at a relatively low cost. We hope to work on our policy proposals and inform how they might work in practice whilst in the field. We will collect micro-plastic samples from the rural Scottish seas, and use this unique platform to collate our ideas: a think tank for the ocean, made on the ocean.

Is there anything that we can do as individuals to support marine conservation? Join Marine Society! But also just to be conscious of your everyday actions and question everything. Where is my plastic bottle going to end up? Does my face wash have micro-beads in it? How many food miles does my food have? Has my fish been caught sustainably? Beyond what the individual can do, we need collective action. Educate your parents on how they can change their behaviour, educate your community and your friends. If you can change one person’s mind about their actions, it can set off a chain reaction.

Right now we’re experiencing a period of extreme disruption and uncertainty, as the coronavirus pandemic coincides with the climate crisis. At such a strange time, what are your hopes for the future? I hope that this time of uncertainty can foster greater unity between communities. We cannot go back to ‘normal.’ Now more than ever we need to work together to question our behaviours, and to dismantle systems that harm our oceans. The pandemic has shown that we are capable of mass change for the right reason. Never before has there been such an urgent reason than for the cause of climate action and ocean conservation.

How can LSE students get involved in the Marine Society and the Blue New Deal? We will be hoping to hold a number of (socially distanced) events in the lead-up to our Michaelmas term elections, where a number of committee positions will be open. If you are a student who loves the ocean, whether that is through surfing, swimming, diving, sailing or ocean conservation, Marine Society is a platform to pursue that love even when you feel detached from it in London. The Blue New Deal will continue throughout the year, culminating in our annual expedition to Scotland which is organised for June 2021.

Green Impact: staff-led sustainability at LSE Every year at LSE, staff are invited to take part in Green Impact, a national project which encourages colleagues to team up and undertake sustainability actions in their workplace. This year, two of the most successful Green Impact teams were from the Student Marketing and Recruitment department and the LSE Careers Service. Nazia Taznim and Beth Wilson were among the participants. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how they helped to transform sustainability practices at LSE. Nazia Taznim, Student Marketing and Recruitment Student Marketing and Recruitment have taken part in Green Impact for the past few years. It has been a great way to involve the whole department in sustainable and green practices in the office and in our work, which is why we got involved again this year! As part of Green Impact, one of the tasks involved creating a project that encompassed engagement with sustainability. Our team were already working on a few ideas and so we thought it would be great to include them in our Green Impact project and measure its engagement and impact on prospective students and related stakeholders. The first aspect of our project involved measuring the amount of carbon emissions and paper reduced from our new undergraduate prospectus, which reduced in size in comparison to last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The results were exciting! We found the reduction in size resulted in a 78.62% reduction in paper used and an 89.27% reduction in carbon emitted per prospectus.

This dramatic reduction in both paper and carbon emissions is something we hope to continue! Another aspect of our project was related to our LSE Student Shadowing Scheme, which involves year 12 and 13 students across the UK applying to shadow an LSE student at one of their lectures. In continuation from last year, attendees received an LSE branded Keep-Cup and complimentary hot drink voucher during their Q&A session. As part of our project this year, we created a survey to measure the impact of Keep-Cups in terms of generating engagement with sustainability among attendees after their session. We were really impressed with the results! Among our findings, 85.5% of respondents continued to regularly (either ‘a few times a month, once a month, more than once a week, once a week or every day’) use their Keep-Cup after their session, 70.5% use their Keep-Cups instead of single-use cups, and 72.6% were aware of the environmental reasons behind providing attendees with a Keep-Cup.

Beth Wilson: LSE Careers During the past academic year, members from different teams across LSE Careers came together to help champion sustainable initiatives within the department and get involved in the Green Impact scheme. The team formed a passionate working group, tasked with multiple ‘green actions’ and creating a sustainable project for the whole department. After brainstorming numerous ideas, we decided to focus on the environmental impact our department’s ‘lunchstyle’ has. Due to the busyness within the department, there was a strong culture of eating out and/or buying food out, which research tells us can be incredibly carbon intensive. We’re all fans of the easy meal-deals from supermarkets,

Our final aspect of this year’s project incorporated highlighting information related to sustainability happening on campus in our presentations delivered to prospective students. Additionally, our General Course team featured information on events relating to sustainability in their General Course e-newsletter ‘The Tembo’, which was sent to 300 General Course students every few weeks. Past newsletters highlighted Climate Emergency events and ‘Vegan Life Live London’. Our hopes for the future are to continue with the successes from our project this year and our sustainable practices within our department. We also hope to develop new ways to embed sustainability in the other activities we conduct.

but we were shocked to discover that the average impact of a ready-made sandwich is two times higher than its homemade equivalent. The team devised a week-long campaign which included home-made communal lunches, a singleuse coffee cup ban, a (controversial) reduction in dairy milk supplies with plant-based milk alternatives provided, and a sustainable bake-off competition. The campaign was to be launched with a morning presentation and workshop which highlighted the key environmental impacts we were working to reduce. Due to the current working situation, we had to reschedule some parts of our in-office campaign week but we were still able to deliver an educational presentation on the carbon impact of our consumer habits. We also hosted a ‘Virtual Sustainable Bakeoff” which not only promoted 16 different lowcarbon recipes, but helped to generate a sense of community spirit whilst we were working from home. As a result of our campaign, staff felt that they were more likely to bring lunch from home, with those bringing it in ‘always’ or ‘frequently’, rising from 58.3% to 95.8%. It also kick-started discussions across the department about what else we could do in the office and whilst working from home. We’re excited to carry out our original campaign plans once everyone is back working in the office but in the meantime, we’re keen to keep sharing top tips on how to live sustainably from home with our department. As the next academic year starts, the LSE Careers Green Impact team looks forward to launching another project, encouraging our colleagues to stay green and working with the wider LSE community to reduce our School’s environmental footprint!

The Balance Much like plants, humans can be surprisingly frail yet resilient at the same time. With a bit of human ingenuity and technology, hopefully we can strike a delicate balance within and across the ecosystem one day! May the scales tip in your favour.

#PROTECT #surviveandthrive Artwork by J.

my eyes turn to the sky each day Teodora Marinescu

My eyes turn to the sky each day Now thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time, but moments will soon go away Eyes looking at the little plant growing Protect the green, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a warning Turn around see me caring for you Oh how I wish many others would too To the human kind the prayers go out Kindness, respect, collaboration throughout Sky unites all of us below If only all of us could grow Each of us like the little plant, we live All of us together, we give Day after day, opportunities for change are real Seize the moment, join hands, heal

Franz Senn HĂźtte, Austria This hut is at 2,147 metres and is very secluded from the valley, but fully energy neutral due to solar power and a hydropower system. The hut is surrounded by glaciers that are currently quickly retreating. Built in 1885, the hut has since been used for ski touring in spring and hiking and mountain climbing in the summer. Photo: Vera Vrijmoeth

Rye Harbour, UK View from the dunes of the beach near Rye. Photo: Vera Vrijmoeth

Resilient Futures zine

Articles inside