BUFDG's environmental sustainability-related activities

At BUFDG we understand the urgency of the climate crisis and, like the universities we support, we want to play our part in helping to live and work more sustainably, and prevent environmental breakdown.

Some of the work that we do in this area is visible (as part of broader sector initiatives, for example), but there’s much that we don’t publicise, and so we wanted to use this post to briefly summarise some of these activities to keep our members in the loop.

Our most obvious work is perhaps on those aforementioned sector initiatives that we undertake alongside others. Most recently this has included:

• Collaborating with AUDE and EAUC on the Cost of Net Zero Calculator
• Supporting the University of Cambridge Banking Engagement Forum on the design of an RfP process for fossil-fuel free cash products
• Supporting the development of the AUDE / ARUP guide to decarbonisation in universities
• Working with Cazenove Capital to developing a guide to net-zero investments for universities

In addition, BUFDG looks to update members on any important sustainability-related developments that impact the sector and provide, or signpost to, useful resources. This might be in the form of providing standalone webinars, or prioritising topical sessions for the Finance Festival and other conferences, for example. It might also be through written resources such as our tracker of funding opportunities for decarbonization projects, or the guide to the Sustainability Reporting Landscape in HE. We are also expanding the more formal training we offer, by shortly adding two new e-learning modules introducing sustainability for HE finance professionals to the Sustainable Procurement ones already in our suite.

None of these initiatives would be possible without taking time to monitor developments, and ensure we are in the room to work with others when opportunities arise. We work closely, through HEPA, with the sector’s Responsible Procurement Group (RPG), take part in AUDE’s Sustainability Advisory Group, and use our connections within PHES to keep up to date on issues shared with Planning, Business, HR, Legal, and Internal Audit colleagues. We also have regular climate-related conversations with many of the sector’s commercial suppliers and supporters.

We see all these activities as for the primary benefit of our member universities. However, we also want to do what we can internally to ensure that BUFDG, and PHES more broadly, can be as sustainable as possible. These activities revolve around regular sessions at our quarterly PHES staff meetings, and in the last two years have included:

• The initiation of a PHES-wide Sustainability Group to plan and oversee activities
• The nomination of a BUFDG lead for sustainability (Matt)
• An internal policy of ensuring all PHES staff undertake the EAUC’s Carbon Literacy Training
• The creation of a ‘Sustainability Framework’ for PHES organisations to baseline and track our carbon ‘handprints’ and footprints
• A focus on reducing organisational ‘dark data’, which carries a considerable carbon cost
• Exploring longer-term options including formal sustainability accreditation for BUFDG / PHES, and climate-friendly employee and travel policies

We hope you’ve found this a useful snapshot. We know that, when the financial situation is so challenging for so many members, tackling the climate crisis can end up further down the list of priorities. However, we’re keen to keep supporting members and the wider sector with net-zero and other sustainability-related challenges, and will continue to update our resources and signpost where we can, to keep you all in the loop.

If there’s anything else that you think we should, or could be doing, to make your sustainability journeys easier, please do drop Matt an email.