Blueprint for a greener world

For the third year in a row, the University of Westminster has been recognised as one of the global frontrunners in its work towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDG Impact Rankings, published by Times Higher Education, measure how universities around the world perform against 17 goals which were set out by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. The purpose of these goals is to act as a blueprint towards achieving peace and prosperity for people and the planet by 2030.

Since Westminster’s first submission in 2019, the University has been steadily improving its performance in this prestigious league table year on year. In April 2022, Westminster was recognised as being one of the top 15 per cent out of 1,406 universities worldwide for its work on sustainability.

As a global institution, Westminster is already contributing to society and creating value through research, learning and teaching – the SDG framework allows the University to combine and report effectively on its progress and achievements.

“When we talk about sustainability, people usually think of the environmental areas like energy, water and waste,” explains Katherine Bojczuk, Head of Sustainability at Westminster.

“But when we talk about sustainable development, we’re really talking about the true definition of sustainability. So that includes those social and economic aspects as well, and that’s where the SDGs come in.”

The role of the Sustainability Team, led by Katherine, is to embed sustainability across the University – throughout professional services, academic research and even the curriculum.

“Often, we’ll get a comment or a question from a colleague or a student, perhaps with an idea for something that they’re really passionate about,” she says. “We’re always getting new ideas pop up in our inbox. A lot of the day is making those connections and understanding the kinds of things happening at the University, and how they can fit in with the SDGs.”

The Impact Rankings

The hard work of the Sustainability Team and the eagerness of the Westminster community to embrace sustainable measures is proving successful, as demonstrated in the annual Impact Rankings.

The Times Higher Education SDG Impact Rankings launched in 2018 as the first global attempt to measure how universities around the world perform against the 17 SDGs. The Impact Rankings use carefully calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparison across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching, through evidence submitted by universities. They allow for institutions to submit evidence for any number of SDGs.

Our highlights for this year included:

29th globally for SDG10: Reduced Inequalities

46th globally for SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production

77th globally for SDG5: Gender Equality

“This impressive performance reflects Westminster’s commitment to the SDGs and our values to bring together our collective energies to play our part in addressing the climate crisis and inequalities to enable a more sustainable and socially just world,” says Dain Son Robinson, former Sustainable Development Goals Co-ordinator at Westminster.

“In seven of the eleven SDGs Westminster participated in, the University performed in the top 25 per cent of institutions worldwide, which confirms the real impact and value Westminster contributes to the world as well as its dedication to improving society in a number of different areas.”

Priorities in action

The SDGs given most precedence are those which are linked to Westminster’s priorities as an institution. The University’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), as well as its core values of being a responsible, progressive and compassionate institution, are reflected in the impressive performance and continued improvements in SDGs 5 and 10, for example.

“We have embarked on a very ambitious project of culture change,” says Professor Dibyesh Anand, Head of Social Sciences and Co-chair of the University’s EDI Committee.

The EDI Committee lead the University in the direction of equality, diversity and inclusion by supporting and encouraging engagement with EDI programmes and action plans. They work in collaboration with the University’s EDI networks (BME network, Women of Westminster network and LGBTQ+ network) to challenge prejudices and celebrate diversity across Westminster.

This year, for example, the focus has been on anti-racism.

“Our University outlined a 15-point Black Lives Matter commitment in 2020. So we have been putting that into practice. But the key aspect is making the University not just non-racist but actively anti-racist. We’re achieving that through policies and processes, but also through conversations.

“We have had events and festivals to encourage conversations on difficult issues, like how to decolonise the University. We also had a major conference on anti-racism, with an open forum for students and colleagues to be involved.”

It is this positive action which makes Westminster unique in its approach to EDI, says Dibyesh.

“It is the shift away from just policies and processes, to lived experience.”

“As a University, the fact that we have done so well in both SDG 5 and 10 shows that those are both genuine priorities for the University,” Katherine adds. “It is something we continue to focus on and excel at.”

A greener future

Mapping progress to the SDGs is an encouraging process that verifies the areas of sustainability that the University is already doing well in. But it is also a useful tool for highlighting areas of improvement.

Katherine’s team look at emerging areas of work throughout the year, and put those forward in the rankings as well. For example, this year the University submitted evidence for the SDG13: Climate Action for the first time. “It gives us a bit of a benchmark to understand where we are in the rankings – globally and in the UK,” Katherine explains. “That then gives us an idea of where we could make improvements.”

Climate Action has been the main focus this year, she says.

“We have spent a lot of time coming up with our baseline – understanding where we are with Climate Action, understanding what our carbon footprint is and what we can do to improve it. So we’re looking at emissions for things like procurement and travel. That’s helping us to build a bigger picture.”

But one of the biggest challenges for achieving net zero targets comes from construction and the University buildings themselves.

This is where Alessandra Foderaro, Deputy Director of Capital Development at Westminster, comes in. She oversees the University’s construction projects, to ensure they are being designed with sustainability at the heart of the decision-making processes.

“We try to do more than the minimum requirements for planning, and meeting the building regulations,” she says. “It’s an extra cost and an extra commitment that the University is embracing. But if it was easy, probably everybody would do it.”

One of the University’s largest capital projects currently is the redevelopment of 29 Marylebone Road.

“29MR is a very interesting case. The building as it stands is not really fit for purpose. As a developer, it would have been better to demolish the building. But the moment you demolish a building, you’ve got all that embodied carbon of the previous building, all the embodied carbon of your rebuilding. So instead, we are working to modify the building, without demolition.”

In addition, there are a host of sustainability initiatives being implemented at 29 Marylebone Road. These include triple-glazed windows, significant planting on two roof terraces to enhance biodiversity, electric heating and cooling via air source heat pumps, energy efficient LED lighting and lower flush WCs to reduce water consumption. Alessandra says she finds the SDGs a useful means of mapping out projects, to see how they can contribute to the University’s overall sustainability goals.

“Sometimes there are things you do that you don’t realise map with the SDGs. For example, by providing a building that doesn’t have dark corners or corridors with dead ends, we are contributing to making colleagues and students feel safe. Which relates to Reduced Inequalities.”

This is why they map the SDGs for every project, she says.

“As you map, you ask yourself – can I do more to support sustainability?”

Westminster’s positive outcomes are thanks to many members of the University community, whose work contributes to the SDGs in one way or another. However, there is always room for improvement, with much to be done to reach its targets.

“It’s a huge piece of work,” says Katherine. “We have been doing a lot around trying to establish the net zero targets, and understand our carbon footprint and how that impacts us operationally. That’s our main focus for now.”

Westminster will continue working hard towards becoming a sustainable institution and creating a sustainable future for students, colleagues and alumni.

“I am incredibly proud of the University’s performance in the latest THE Impact Rankings,” says Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University. “Our shared values of being progressive, compassionate and responsible play an important role in delivering our social and economic impact around the world and in bringing our communities and society together. Our University is in an excellent position to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and it is our opportunity and duty to do so.”