The Students’ Union at Liverpool Hope University is set to create its first ever ‘Sustainability’ role, to help further reduce the institution’s carbon footprint.
The ‘Sustainability Student Representative’ position has now been approved by Liverpool Hope Students’ Union Executive Council.
And more details about the appointment - which is now up for grabs for one willing candidate - are due to be revealed this week to coincide with the Students’ Union’s by-elections.
Nominations open on Wednesday, November 17th and the voting period will take place the following Wednesday, November 24-26th. The newly elected officer will be announced on Friday 26th.
Stephanie Trujillo, the SU’s Vice President Welfare & Community, says: “I’m extremely excited that the new Sustainability Student Representative role was approved.
“After attending the COP26 protest in Glasgow with 100 other Hope students and staff, it’s clear to me there is a growing demand and urgency from students to have the University be actively involved in climate justice.
“Students and staff also protested locally in Liverpool, marching down from Sefton Park to the city centre. That group included members from the Liverpool COP-26 Coalition, the University’s School of Social Sciences and the Green Party Society.
The Sustainability Student Representative will take an active role in identifying any sustainability issues and will be working closely with the SU to carry out educational and community oriented projects, events and campaigns all around sustainability, environmental governance and climate justice.
The SU strongly supports the National Union of Students’ (NUS) campaign for a #NewVisionforEducation and the “Decolonise, Divest and Decarbonise” campaign and its sustainability.
Stephanie Trujillo says “We’re looking for structural, systemic change, not just small side projects and soundbites.
“We need to take big, fast-pace actions from an institutional level both as an SU and University.
“I’m hoping we can create a committee that includes several stakeholders from within the university, SU, City Council and other external partners so we can make achievable and effective efforts for our future. “
The news comes just days after a large contingent from Hope travelled to Glasgow to attend a march to coincide with the ‘COP26’ ‘Conference of the Parties’ summit and which was intended to put pressure on world leaders to really follow through on their climate change promises.
Stephanie adds: “The COP26 protest on the International Day for Climate Day was amazing and exhilarating!
“I'd never seen so many people. I looked behind and ahead of me and it was endless. In some ways it felt like a celebration because of the drumming, floats, signs and demonstrations. It was nice to see that protesting could be fun and inviting.”
For further updates keep an eye on the SU’s Instagram pages @liverpoolhopesu