We're proud to be working with our partners to promote climate justice and support the move to a green economy.
The North East England Climate Coalition is made up of voluntary groups, universities, business representatives, environmental organisations and government bodies.
Its aims tie in perfectly with Durham's work to reduce the worst effects of human-made climate change through innovative, world-leading research.
We're also committed to cutting our own environmental impact through sustainable development and improving the environment for our surrounding communities.
Geothermal energy
Our research is helping harness geothermal energy from disused coalmines across North East England, as a cleaner source of heat for homes and businesses and we're exploring how hydrogen could be another future heat source.
Along with our regional partners we're also helping to drive forward industrial decarbonisation in the North East and Tees Valley.
And we're working with Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency to ensure that water is used sustainably to avoid future shortages.
All of this sits alongside our strengths in other environmentally focussed research like wind power, solar and the role of nature in urban sustainability.
Conservation and biodiversity
In the UK and internationally our researchers are studying the impact of climate change on animals and plants, to aid conservation and improve biodiversity and the importance of soil health in sustainability and improving people's well-being.
We're also supporting research to ensure that people living in areas of the world that could be worst affected by climate change are able to live safely and sustainably.
Our experts will be feeding into the crucial United Nations COP26 Climate Conference, being hosted in 2021 by the UK. Alongside this we're supporting an Ecoschools event so our young people can engage with schools around the world and learn more about reducing their carbon footprint.
Sustainable universities
As a university we've invested heavily in improving our buildings and surrounding environment with the aim of being one of the UK's most sustainable universities.
We've created new footpaths and cycle ways to support green travel and we've signed the County Durham Single Use Plastics Pledge to work towards removing unnecessary plastics from our operations.
We look forward to continuing our work with regional, national and international partners to provide a sustainable future for North East England and beyond.
