Our commitment to sustainability
Our ambition to become a stand-out university committed to tackling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as a leader in climate change and resilience through research and enterprise activity, is set out in our Strategy 2025.
We're committed to finding solutions to the climate crisis, through innovative research and effective partnership working with business, industry and the public and voluntary sectors around the world. Right here, right now, we are making a contribution to tackling the climate emergency, working to protect our fragile environment, and the global communities that live within it.
We're committed to being a good neighbour, passionate about our communities and the environment. We'll continually strive to improve our social and environmental performance. Our aim is to ensure that our activities positively contribute to the sustainable development of the regional communities we serve.
Throughout COP26, we'll be showcasing some of the work we're doing to address climate change, through a range of events which highlight our innovative and collaborative approach to this global emergency.
EXHIBITING AT COP26
Sunday 7 and Friday 12 November
Our academics will be exhibiting in the Green Zone at COP26 at the COP26 Universities Network stand on Sunday 7 November, and the UKRI stand on Friday 12 November.

Uws COP26 EVENTS
In search of climate politics by Professor Matthew Paterson, University of Manchester - hosted by UWS Protracted Crisis Research Centre
Wednesday 3 November, 1.30pm to 3pm, online
Join Matthew Paterson, Research Director of the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) and Professor of International Politics, Manchester University as he discusses the political dynamics surrounding climate change initiatives in Ottawa, Canada.
This seminar develops a particular account of what it means to say that climate change is political. It focuses in particular on two recurring tensions – one between de and re-politicisation, and one between ‘purification’ and complexity. It shows that the particular ways these tensions play out is driven by the underlying forces of cultural political economy – the pursuit of capital accumulation, and the embeddedness of climate change-generating practices in daily life.
If you would like to attend the event in person book your place here.
If you would like to sign up to the webinar please book your place here.
Creativity and climate justice on the waterfront: insights from Govan Graving Docks
Friday 5 November, 10am to 1pm, Film City Glasgow
A practice research-led event, presented by Division of Arts and Media, School of Business and Creative Industries, the Creative Media Academy, and Protracted Crisis Research Centre, UWS. Chaired by Professors Katarzyna Kosmala and Graham Jeffery.
The event combines – a relational walk to nearby site of the A-listed Govan Graving Docks, focusing on the ongoing artist and activist grassroots campaign to save the docks from the climate challenge perspective, including a discussion and a community performance at the site.
Find out more and book your place here.
Art and climate change on the waterfront: round table with European/Indian artists.
Friday 5 November, 2.30pm to 5pm, online webinar
This will be a hybrid event focusing on participatory interventionist artist and community responses to climate change in the context of diverse communities in Ireland and India. Chaired by Professors Katarzyna Kosmala and Graham Jeffery.
If you would like to attend the event in person book your place here.
If you would like to sign up to the webinar please book your place here.
Consumption, apathy and alternate realities
Friday 12 November, 2pm and 5pm, Film City Glasgow
This is an interdisciplinary event engaged with COP26, the climate crisis and lived experiences, thoughts and feelings of the UWS student body.
Through the sharing of arts identity, installation, live performance, music and visual works this arts collective will consider projection, the essence of passing time and the space we hold within it.
our COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
We've committed to placing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of our Strategy 2025. Find out more about how we are working to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges through innovative and collaborative research.
COP26 Seminar Series
You can watch some of the seminars held by UWS in conjunction with COP26 here...
Collaborative approaches to north south waste and energy management
Around the world, many communities living in acute poverty on the margins of cities are at the frontline of the consequences of climate change, energy and waste policy. Professor Graham Jeffery of UWS and Dr Ben Parry of Bath Spa University have been working with colleagues in India to develop a research and innovation facility, Compound 13 Lab, which examines the issues of waste, work and survival in Dharavi, Mumbai. The panel discusses methods and approaches to collaboration in these frontline settings.
Watch the seminar in full here
Dr Keshav Dahal on smart agriculture capacity
In this session, Professor Keshav Dahal is joined by several guest speakers to host a discussion on SUNSpaCe, a new collaboration for sustainable development of smart agriculture capacity. The webinar focuses on the research and development work carried out under the SUNSpaCe project.
Watch the seminar in full here
Waste, environment and sustainable development: A student showcase
In this session, Dr Iain McLellan welcomes three recent MSc Waste and Resource Management students to discuss their recent research.