MAY

The Green Gown Awards Australasia are back for 2021, with 10 categories open for applications from next Tuesday, 11 May. This year's award cycle will see many of your favourite categories returning, along with some exciting new additions and updates. 

We're excited to announce the introduction of two new categories this year. Building Back Better will recognise the impact that the pandemic on institutions, including the challenges and opportunities that have been created to drive an environmentally sustainable and just recovery. Along with fellow newbie Leading the Circular Economy, there is sure to be a category for all institutions innovating for a sustainable future!

Another big announcement is that we have altered the two-year rule to exclude highly commended initiatives. This means only winning initiatives will be excluded from re-submitting to the awards for two years (unless they can demonstrate significant change since their first award). Highly commended initiatives from the last two years can now resubmit for the chance to win.

The Awards remain completely free to enter, with all Australasian tertiary education institutions, including Universities, TAFE’s, Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics (ITPs) and RTO’s, as well as third-party organisations and multi-partner teams with an institutional leader, invited to enter.

Make this your winning year and submit an application by 6 July 2021.

Whether you're working on a specific projects, or a range of solutions, we'd love to hear from you! Register your interest using the link below.

In December 2019, the University of Tasmania (UTAS), with support from Hobart City Council, set up a pilot ‘an innovatively designed’ recycling wall for difficult to recycle items in the Social Sciences building on the Sandy Bay campus using discarded filing cabinets. Given the immediate success of the pilot wall, the service expanded to other buildings and campuses. A total of 22 recycling walls are now utilised across UTAS campuses.

Join UTAS sustainability team member, Will Plaister, for a discussion of the pilot project, including its implementation and success to date.

The webinar will be held online via Zoom on Thursday 13 May at 5pm.

Race To Zero is a global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.

By joining the Race to Zero, you will help demonstrate both the higher and further education sector’s commitment to the net-zero agenda as well as your institution’s leadership on a global level at COP26 in November 2021.

There are over 25,000 universities and numerous colleges across the world, together we make a huge impact and can be a force for change. We need to take action now.

By joining you are committing to the following Race to Zero criteria:

• Pledge: Pledge at the head-of-organization level to reach (net) zero GHGs as soon as possible, and by mid-century at the latest, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. Set an interim target to achieve in the next decade, which reflects maximum effort toward or beyond a fair share of the 50% global reduction in CO2 by 2030 identified in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C 
• Plan:  Within 12 months of joining, explain what actions will be taken toward achieving both interim and longer-term pledges, especially in the short- to medium-term. 
• Proceed: Take immediate action toward achieving (net) zero, consistent with delivering interim targets specified.
• Publish: Commit to report publicly both progress against interim and long-term targets, as well as the actions being taken, at least annually.