City and the Environment

Welcome to The Point - a roundup of City's environmental policies, initiatives and achievements

National Vegetarian Week (21-27 May 2012)

City will be celebrating National Vegetarian Week from 21-27 May.  National Vegetarian Week is the UK's annual awareness-raising campaign promoting inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle.

Informational stalls will be set up all week at Northampton Square (in the main corridor of University Building and at the Student Centre) and vegetarian-only menus will be served in the Level 1 catering outlets (excluding Courtyard Cafe).

Did you know that eating less meat is the single most effective way to reduce your environmental impact?  By swapping meat and fish for a plant-based diet, you will:

• Reduce your own carbon footprint - Livestock farming produces huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. One study estimated that the farming of animals caused more emissions (18%) than the world's entire transport system (13.5%).
• Save water - It takes thousands more litres of water to produce a kilo of beef than to grow the same quantity of grains, vegetables or pulses. Manure, antibiotics and hormones all find their way from livestock farms into our water system, while fish farms release chemicals and parasites that threaten wildlife.
• Save land - Livestock production is responsible for 70% of Amazon deforestation.
• Protect the oceans - Industrial fishing practices are destroying fragile eco-systems and wiping out whole populations of sea creatures.

For more information about National Vegetarian Week, please visit www.nationalvegetarianweek.org.

Read more about City's Sustainable Food initiatives.

What is The Point?

The Point is City's branding for its green initiatives.

The Point is to make City a greener and more sustainable university.

City University London is recognised for its environmental achievements. We aim to create a sustainable working and learning environment by systematically improving our energy efficiency and use of resources, by integrating principles of sustainability into corporate strategies and operational procedures, and by raising awareness of environmental issues amongst our staff, students and the wider community. Visit our environment web pages to learn more about our policies, targets and achievements in the areas of environmental management, carbon reduction, sustainable food, waste and recycling, green travel and more.

View the Green City Guide 2011 for more information about City's environmental initiatives and to learn more about how you can become 'greener' at City and at home.

For more information, please contact Dawn White, Environmental Officer, at environment@city.ac.uk.