Environment Day litter pick 01 June

In recognition of the United Nations World Environment Day on 5 June, with the theme ‘solutions to plastic pollution’, join us for a litter pick on the Moulsecoomb campus to #BeatPlasticPollution.

Meet outside Mithras Annexe 12noon on Thursday 01 June to collect litter pickers, bags and gloves – all equipment will be provided. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the days weather.

What is World Environment Day and why should I get involved?

World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world and this year is being hosted by Côte D’Ivoire. To keep global warming below 1.5°C this century, we must halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Without action, exposure to air pollution beyond safe guidelines will increase by 50 per cent within the decade and plastic waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems will nearly triple by 2040. This year the theme of solutions to plastic pollution aims to highlight the action we must take to #BeatPlasticPollution, find solutions and reduce the use and production of plastic.

 Find out more about World Environment Day and solutions from across the world: Stories – Environment Day | United Nations, including how Nzambi and her team in Kenya are making paving bricks from recycled plastic.

Also read how Brighton graduate Tom Meades design studio, gomi, produces portable Bluetooth speakers made from waste plastic and  second-life e-bike batteries: Brighton graduate launches new sustainable speakers made from waste plastic and e-bike batteries.

Free bike maintenance checks 22 and 23 May

A mechanic from Bike for Life South will be providing free bike checks 23 May at Falmer and 24 May at Moulsecoomb, 11am – 3pm.

These sessions are funded from the Department for Transport’s Capability & Ambition Fund, through Brighton and Hove City Council.

The basic maintenance check offered includes minor mechanical adjustments and cycle advice including:

  1. Bikeability advice such as use of gears, brakes and on road safety tips.
  2. Recommended bike shops and services.
  3. Help with the comfort of your bike set up / riding position.
  4. Advice on locking your cycle and correct helmet fitting.
  5. Bike servicing at a later date not covered by your 30-minute appointment.

It is expected that bike owners remain present when their bikes are being looked at, so they can benefit from the mechanics tips and advice on how to handle to most basic repairs and maintenance checks.

The Dr Bike team does not provide a full bike service, but it can give an advice whether such service is required considering the condition of a bike. They can also recommend bike shops in a city offering such services.

Drop in and bring your bike along to the mechanic anytime between 11am-3pm, at the following locations:

  • Tuesday 22 May, Falmer Campus, outside the Checkland building
  • Wednesday 23 May, Moulsecoomb Campus, outside the Advanced Engineering Building

Please be aware spaces are not guaranteed.

22 April 2023 – Earth Day

Get Inspired. Take Action. Be a part of the green revolution on Earth Day! 

Earth Day is an annual day of global action for our planet and this year’s theme is Invest In Our Planet and you can get involved!

Join the Brighton Beach Clean!

Join Surfers Against Sewage for a beach clean in Hove – 22 April from 10am: Earth Day Brighton and Hove beach clean Tickets, Sat 22 Apr 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

World Water Day 2023

This World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis, and action towards the Sustainable Development Goal number 6.

And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. That means you! Watch the short animation based on the ancient tale of the hummingbird who is faced with a great fire and, rather than stand and stare, decides to act – trying to put the fire out one drop at a time. The other animals laugh, but she replies, “I’m doing what I can.”

What actions will you take this water day? #BeAHummingbird

What can you do?

Learn – explore the water and sanitation crisis, there’s a long way to go before we meet Sustainable Development Goal 6- Clean Water and Sanitation- the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030. Learn about the goal and what needs to be done to tackle the global water and sanitation crisis.

Take Action- You can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume and manage water in your lives.

Create your own action list on UnWater: UN-Water | Be The Change | Be the change you want to see in the world. (unwater.org) 

On campus – save resources on campus by turning off taps, reporting faults and refilling on campus. See the map of all the places you can refill a reusable water bottle on campus – FreeWater – Brighton University Hospitality

Bus service improvements to Varley in 2023

The following improvements are being made to buses serving Varley Park from January 9th:
  • 5B will stop at Varley throughout the day, up to twice an hour (each way) and the route has been changed so that it will stop on the Falmer campus 🙌
  • 24 will stop at Varley throughout the day, up to 3 times an hour (each way)
Don’t forget that discounted student tickets are available on the mobile app, saving you up to 25%.
View the updated timetables. 24 and 5B bus timetable updates

Do you travel by bus around Brighton? Take part in our survey

We would like to know how you use the university’s UB1 shuttle bus service between our Brighton campuses and halls, to inform service provision moving forwards. We’re also keen to find out how you use local buses to travel around Brighton and Hove.

Please answer the short questionnaire to provide your feedback. It should only take 5 minutes and closes on 1 December 2021.

Take part in the Bus Travel Survey now

COP26: What is it and why is it important? Join our series of events.

What is COP26?

Between 31 October – 12 November 2021 Glasgow will play host to the UN’s 26th Conference of the Parties – COP26. The 197 parties (196 countries and the EU) who signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) treaty in 1194 will be in attendance to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework on Climate Change – in simple terms they will be making important decisions on how humanity tackles climate change.

United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world, with complex negotiations taking place between officials from every country, representatives from civil society and the global news media. COP26 is the largest summit ever hosted by the UK and is described as the most significant climate event since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Paris agreement was signed at COP21 in 2015. The agreement was the first of its kind – a legally binding agreement where each country signed up to cut carbon emissions to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees and ideally to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels. At COP26 the Paris Agreement will be a key discussion top and for this reason, many believe that COP26 is pivotal in driving forward action on climate change and enacting the agreement.

Watch the one minute video from People’s advocate, Sir David Attenborough, on the importance of COP26.

Why do I need to know about COP26 and how can I get involved?

Issues of the long-term sustainability of society and of our planet are considered to be one of the greatest Global Challenges ever facing us. COP26 is a crucial step in addressing this globally, where countries will develop their plans which feed into policies and law affecting each and every one of us.

You can take action in many ways, we’ve developed a brief resource centre where you can learn more about COP26 and the climate emergency.

You can join the #OneStepGreener campaign by sharing the steps our taking to reduce your environmental impact and contribution to climate change – anything from using a reusable bottle to switching to a renewable energy tariff.

We’d also love to see you at one of our COP26 X c-change events, find out more below.

What we’re doing at the University of Brighton – COP26 X c-change

In line with the fortnight of COP26 the University’s Sustainability Team are hosting a number of events to encourage you, our students and staff, to take action on climate change including sustainability strategy development sessions, film screenings, led walks, a visit to the Rampion windfarm visitor centre and a forest bathing activity.

Sport Brighton are also supporting the events with a cycle and sustainable travel challenge on Playwaze, sign up and log your journeys to be in with a chance of winning cycle kit including puncture repair kits and panniers.

Help shape our sustainability strategy

We invite all students and staff to join our events and the launch of the development of the university’s sustainability strategy. We will be hosting an event on each campus to gather views from staff and students on what you think should be included in the strategy. The informal drop-in sessions will provide the opportunity to discuss what the strategy could look like and meet members of the sustainability team.

Find out when the session is happening on your campus, along with our other events, and learn more about COP26 and its importance from our Resource Centre and events page.

What is the UK doing?

In June 2019 the UK Government set a net zero target for carbon emissions by 2050. This has been followed up with a Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener released on 19 October 2021. The plan includes policies and proposals to reduce emissions for each sector including power, fuel supply, heat and buildings, transport, investment, jobs and local climate action.

There is no doubt that delivering any plan will be challenging and questions are already being raised on how the plan will be funded, what tax implications there will be, how technology will be developed and if the transition to net-zero will be just and affordable.

Find out more about the plan on the GOV.UK website

Share your sustainability tips on our pinboard!

As the university goes virtual this term, we’re inviting students and staff to share their top tips for being sustainable at home and in your daily lives.

Check out the virtual pinboard, created by Nicola a student on the Falmer Campus, and add your tips and ideas – big or small. Together all our actions will contribute to reducing our environmental impact and creating a more sustainable world.

Sustainability tips pinboard

Snapshot Travel Survey – Surveyors wanted!

Each year the university carries out a snapshot travel survey to better understand how university users are getting to our campuses. This also allows us to gather data which is used to help develop travel facilities and infrastructure, and we are also required to carry out the survey to meet planning requirements and those from the Office for Students (OfS) 

To carry out the survey we require surveyors to be positioned across our campuses to ask university users a set of questions, regarding their travel habits. This is a paid position and is vital for helping us gather the data we need. 

Please see the details below regarding the role and complete the form to register your interest in being a surveyor. 

Role: Snapshot Travel Survey Surveyor.  

When? Week commencing 24 February 2020. Surveyors are needed throughout the week for 7.5 hour shifts 08.00 – 15.30. Surveyors must be available for at least two 7.5 hour shifts during the week.  

Pay: £10 an hour (grade 3) 

Working details: Surveyors will be required to approach people coming onto campus to ask them a set of questions regarding their travel habits. Working hours are 08.00 – 15.30 and the surveys will be carried out across all campuses during the week, so surveyors may be required to work at a number of campuses during the week. Travel expenses to a campuses that is not your usual place of study will be reimbursed. 

Surveyors will also be required to use their own smart mobile device (phone/tablet/iPad) to collect the survey responses via an online form.  

Full training will be provided and surveyors must be available for this on Tuesday 18 February, at either Moulsecoomb 11.00-12.00 or Eastbourne 14.00 -15.00 

Due to a very high number of applications being received, we are no longer accepting applications. Thank you for your interest. 

#TravelFest – free bike maintenance, pop up bike shop & cycle safety demonstration

Find out about your sustainable travel options, buy a second hand bike and learn about cycle safety from East Sussex Fire and Rescue at #TravelFest !!

When? Friday 11 October 11:00 – 14:00

Where? Cockcroft Hall, Quad and outside the AEB building, Moulsecoomb Campus

What? 

  • Pop up second hand bike shop from the Brighton Bike Hub, in the Cockcroft Quad – bikes for sale £30 – £150
  • Cycle Safety Demonstration with East Sussex Fire & Rescue outside the AEB – sit in a lorry to view the blindspots & learn where to position yourself on the road & talk to Firefighters about road safety
  • Travel information stalls in Cockcroft Hall from: B&H Buses, BTN Bikes, UB1, Evans Cycle, Trainsplit, Sussex Community Rail Partnership, Sport Brighton & c-change
  • Free bike maintenance check 11:00 – 14:00, Cockcroft Quad

There’s also a wealth of travel information on our c-change sustainable travel pages.

Free Dr Bikes (bike maintenance checks):

There will also be free bike maintenance checks at our other campuses during the week. Bring your bike along for a free maintenance check from Bike For Life South at the following times and locations:

Tuesday 8 October 2019, 11:00 – 14:00 Falmer campus, outside the Checkland Building

Thursday 10 October 2019, 11:00 – 14:00 City Campus, Grand Parade main building quad

Friday 11 October 2019, 11:00 – 14:00 Moulsecoomb Campus, Cockcroft Quad