Goldsmiths University Bans Beef Products From Uni Campus To Fight Climate Change

A south-east London university is banning the sale of all beef products on its campus as well as charging a tax on bottled water, in a bid to fight climate change.

Goldsmiths, University of London, in New Cross announced the major plans to reduce its carbon footprint, which will be implemented in September.

Beef products are thought to be ten times more damaging to produce than dairy, poultry, pork and eggs. Cows produce more methane than other livestock and require 28 times more land and 11 times more water than pork or chicken, according to a study.

As well as charging a 10p tax on bottled water and single-use plastics, the uni is making plans to install solar panels and switch to a 100% clean energy supplier.

The university, which specialises in creative, cultural and social studies, will also be spending more money on its allotment and try to increase the amount of students studying climate change.

Goldsmiths currently emits roughly 3.7 million kilos of carbon each year but hopes to become carbon neutral by 2025.

Joining as the college's new head in April, Prof Frances Corner, said: "The growing global call for organisations to take seriously their responsibilities for halting climate change is impossible to ignore.

"Though I have only just arrived at Goldsmiths, it is immediately obvious that our staff and students care passionately about the future of our environment and that they are determined to help deliver the step change we need to cut our carbon footprint drastically and as quickly as possible.

"Declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words.

"I truly believe we face a defining moment in global history and Goldsmiths now stands shoulder to shoulder with other organisations willing to call the alarm and take urgent action to cut carbon use."

Rosie Rogers, Senior Political Advisor at Greenpeace UK, said: "It's encouraging to see an institution like Goldsmiths not simply declaring a climate emergency, but acting on it.

"From energy use, to food sales and plastic pollution - all universities and organisations with campus sites can make changes across their facilities that are better for our planet.

"We call on others to urgently follow suit, and to include cutting all ties from fossil fuel funding in their climate emergency response."

Let's hope more unis follow suit.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Life News, climate change, Real

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating from the University of Sussex, Ciara worked as a writer at GLAMOUR Magazine and later as the Assistant Editor of Yahoo Style UK.

@ciarasheppard