Vive la post-industrial revolution
Students can and should take a lead on environmental issues
According to BBC News, the European Commission has recently put forward plans for a “post-industrial revolution”, in the hope of seeing levels of greenhouse gases fall by 20% over the next 13 years. This certainly sounds commendable, but how will it be done, and how can we as students do our bit?
Perhaps the solution is to see this move by the EC as a call to arms for the public, as well as for scientists and researchers. Whilst technological innovation may help in the cutting of emissions, some hard graft is needed from the public as well, in terms of increased awareness of environmental issues.
Recently, increasing prominence has been given to the Green Gown Awards. These are presented to academic institutions that attain outstanding results in reducing their environmental impact, and are a significant encouragement for staff and students alike.
YUSU appears on the current shortlist for a Green Gown in the Student Initiatives category, demonstrating that there is a desire for environmental action amongst students. The principal reason cited by the organisers for YUSU’s nomination is the auctioning of second hand bicycles that takes place on campus. This is certainly an excellent starting point, but there is still insufficient motivation amongst the vast majority of students. If we are to reverse the effects of the first industrial revolution, there must be greater participation all round, from students, YUSU, and University management.
There is much that the student population can do to help. The University of York has some 11,000 students, and if we all switch off lights and appliances, we could make a significant cut in the amount of electricity that the university uses. Far more importantly though, such action would demonstrate to the management that students are serious about climate change - and that the University should be too.
We could go further. Remember the anti-top-up fees demonstration in London? If the NUS put their heads together, something similar could be done for climate change. Students from all over the country could converge on London in order to draw attention to the wastefulness of universities and other institutions, and to encourage environmental reforms at the top.
Our own People and Planet Society is mounting an ongoing campaign against global warming, along with some other pressing ethical issues, and this again demonstrates the desire for action amongst some students. With enough involved, we could prompt the University to make some moves in the right direction.
But this is only the start. This idea of a “post-industrial revolution” could be a rallying point for people across Europe. Britain was the cradle of the first Industrial Revolution, fueled by the coal-rich mines of Yorkshire. By exploiting another resource, the 11,000 students of this University, we can bring change from the bottom up, and encourage others to do the same.
Many universities have students prepared to be active and mount campaigns, as shown by the success of the top-up fees demo, and in this way we could encourage a rethink at the top by initiating action from the bottom. Someone has to take the lead in showing what is possible, however, and there is no reason why it should not be the students of the University of York.
