Sustainability Built in Local Life
When planning activities and excursions the London team always has the environment and sustainability in their minds. From using energy efficient public transportation options or walking to reminding students to bring their water bottles and reusable coffee cups and ensuring that leftovers from our lunches and dinners do not go to waste, we do our best to pursue sustainability in all that we do.
There is an increasing need to promote a more sustainable way of living as an alternative to the widespread capitalist lifestyle of the city and when possible we have given students the opportunity to be immersed in nature or learn about green initiatives in and outside London.
Previous examples of green activities organized in London:
- In 2017 we arranged to take a group to a farm and dog rescue center in Surrey where students had the opportunity to learn how the farm and the center were run.
- In 2018 we took groups on countryside walks with a professional guide who taught the students about plants and the local area.
- In 2020 we organized an outing at a city farm (Stepney City Farm) in which students could see where food is grown for the local community and could try the fresh products grown in the farm at their cafe.
- Currently we include int the Local Life (Spring semester) an activity at the Kew Botanical Gardens in which we show students one of the UNESCO world heritage sites in London which is often overlooked by visitors and help our groups immerse in nature and learn more about plants.
Living Green
Recycling
Around 7m tons of waste is produced each year from London homes, public buildings and businesses. London is working toward turning the city into a zero waste city. By 2026 no biodegradable or recyclable waste will be sent to landfill, and by 2030, 65 percent of London’s municipal waste will be recycled.
Public Transportation
By 2041, the London Mayor aims for 80 per cent of all Londoners’ trips to be made by foot, by cycle, or by public transport. The Mayor is also working to ensure London’s entire transport system is zero emission by 2050.
TfL will deliver their approach following wide-spread public consultation and building on the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone and the Toxicity Charge (T-Charge). This includes delivering central London and town centre zero emission zones from 2025, creating a zero emission zone in inner London by 2040 and a London-wide zone by 2050.
From this year (2024), all new double-deck buses will be hybrid, electric or hydrogen to focus on only buying the greenest, cleanest buses. By 2037 at the latest, all 9,200 buses across London will be zero emission.
Water Consumption
Water is vital to our quality of life – too much of it and we can experience flooding, too little of it and we can be in drought. In London we use more than 2.6 billion litres of the stuff every day – that’s enough water to fill the Royal Albert Hall 26 times every day.
But we live in the driest part of the country, where there are also the most people. Therefore, water companies that supply our water work to ensure that we use the water we have wisely, that we plan for future challenges and that our water bills are affordable.
Please be mindful of the length of time you take a shower. When you are out and about, carry a reusable water bottle with you. Tap water is drinkable all over London and you can refill your water bottle at one of the many water fountains you see around the city.
Local Initiatives
Some initiatives we would like to highlight are the following: