The Liverpool University branches of UCU, UNITE and UNISON and the Liverpool Guild of Students are calling for a Green New Deal at the University of Liverpool. We believe that urgent action is needed to address the Climate and Ecological Emergency, and that action on climate must also tackle problems of economic inequality and insecurity at the same time. This is what a ‘Green New Deal’ means: a transition to a green economy that transforms both social and environmental outcomes.

The University of Liverpool has taken welcome first steps towards sustainability, but we believe current measures are insufficient. The carbon management plan envisages an absolute reduction in emissions of only 6.1% by 2030. The previous target of a 36% reduction 2005-2020 has not been met. The current net zero commitment for 2035 excludes the largest proportion of its emissions: the travel, supply chain and ‘outsourced’ emissions known as ‘scope 3’. The university is signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals but is failing to implement them in its own institutional and employment practices. To create institutional accountability, shift the pace of change, and prevent greenwashing we need strong mechanisms for collective staff and student voice. We need a Green New Deal to drive democratic change across all areas of the University’s practices and environmental impacts. This is why we are jointly presenting a 'Green New Deal' collective bargaining claim to the University.

The Green New Deal claim calls on the University to:

• Declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency; bring forward its net zero commitment to 2030 and expand the target to encompass ‘scope 3’ emissions including all emissions generated through commutes, international travel, homeworking, and procurement of goods and services including construction.
• Decarbonise and decolonise the curriculum to support climate justice; Negotiate policies to achieve this with the trades unions and the Guild, addressing workload, training, and resourcing issues.
• Commit to bringing its research agenda into line with principles of sustainable development; Support a worker and student led transition away from funding streams tied to environmentally harmful activities.  
• Bring the university’s employment practices in line with the Sustainable Development Goals: decasualise employment practices, end race and gender pay gaps, and reduce inequality through the adoption of a 1:6 pay ratio.
• Reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of its investment portfolio to net zero; develop a more rigorous approach to divestment from firms associated with labour and human rights violations and environmental harms.

Sign the petition and call for a Green New Deal at the University of Liverpool now!

More information and a full version of the draft claim can be found here