School of Social and Political Science

Sustainability

Our School is keen to further the University's commitment to sustainability on campus and beyond.

We produce leading research on global environmental issues. We offer a suite of courses and degrees, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, designed to prepare students to address global challenges linked to climate change, biodiversity, poverty and development.

Awards

In 2017-18 we achieved a Silver Sustainability Award from the Office of Social Responsibility and Sustainability. This is an improvement on the School's previous efforts and the highest award we have achieved since our participation began.

Sustainable travel

The Chrystal Macmillan Building has ample bike storage facilities, including a covered, secure cycle storage area. There are showers in the basement available for use by students and staff. 

Our building is well-serviced by Lothian Buses 41, 42, 67 and the King's Buildings shuttle bus. The nearest bus stop is on Buccleuch Terrace, next to Potterrow and Bristo Square. Please visit lothianbuses.com for timetables and routemaps and the University's shuttle bus webpage for the most up-to-date timetable information.

The University offers an interest-free public transport loan to staff for purchasing bus or train season tickets to be paid back in installments deducted from your salary. More information can be found at the interest-free public transport loan website.

More information about sustainable travel options, including bus ticketing options, can be found on the University's Transport and Parking webpage.

The School of Social and Political Science

The School of Social and Political Science is committed to contributing to social responsibility and sustainability at the University of Edinburgh. This includes supporting the University’s Climate Strategy through our research, teaching and working practices.

Within the School, we are taking the following steps:

  • Participating in the University’s Sustainability Awards programme. We currently hold a Silver Office Award. 
  • Making sure sustainability is taken into consideration along with other factors such as cost and durability when making purchasing decisions.
  • Following our Silver policies and procedures (such as recycling and reusing furniture wherever possible, implementing a paper reduction policy, encouraging the use of Keep Cups) in order to improve resource efficiency. 
  • The SPS Facilities team members have also committed themselves to using the most sustainable form of transport to get to work and aim to walk or cycle over 90% of the time.

If you have any queries or ideas about sustainability at SPS, contact SPS.Facilities@ed.ac.uk