The Royal Veterinary College recognises the unprecedented global challenges posed by the climate crisis and wider issues of sustainability, and we need to strengthen our commitment and action across the RVC. Our Environmental Sustainability Vision is that the RVC makes a positive impact by continually improving our environmental sustainability performance and embedding sustainability considerations into decision-making throughout the organisation; this is reflected in our Environmental Sustainability Policy.

We have committed to become Net Zero by 2040 and are undertaking work to develop our plans to bring this date forward. This work includes:

• A heating decarbonisation study to replace gas boilers with air-source heat pumps and solar panels.
• A review of all our buildings to identify energy-saving opportunities and increase renewable energy generation.
• Participating in Farming for Carbon and Nature to determine how much carbon is being captured in our soil.
• Implementing a Biodiversity Action Plan.
• Developing a full carbon footprint, including Scope 3 emissions.
• Investigating opportunities for rainwater capture.

Our new  Environmental Sustainability Strategy was published in 2023. It focuses on seven key areas:

Energy and Carbon

The RVC has a decarbonisation plan in place. We have started to decarbonise heating in eight of our buidlings thanks to a grant of nealy £3,000,000 awarded to us through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund.

Wellcome Trust Susatinability Concordat

The RVC is a signatory of the Wellcome Trust Sustainability Concordat as part of our commitment to ensuring the future design and practice of UK research and innovation is environmentally sustainable.

Biodiversty

The RVC has a Biodiversity plan in place which was published in 2022. 

 We take part in the Farming for Carbon and Nature programme. 

The RVC has achieved Hedgehog Friendly Campus Accreditation. 

Partnership and Engagement

The RVC runs environmental engagement programmes for both staff and students.  The RVC has been running Green Impact since 2023 for staff, and Student Switch Off since 2022 for students. 

Sutainable Procurement

The RVC are affiliated to Electronics Watch through our membership of LUPC. 

Contact

To find out more, please contact:
Rachel Ward, Environmental Sustainability Manager — rjward@rvc.ac.uk
Senara Gamage, Environmental Sustainability Assistant — sgamage@rvc.ac.uk