Concordat for Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice

Closed 14 Sep 2023

Opened 20 Jul 2023

Contact

Jo Allatt

ukrisustainability@ukri.org

Overview

In July 2019, the UK government committed to achieving ‘net zero’ by 2050. 

The UK Research and Innovation (R&I) sector delivers cutting-edge research and innovation essential to meeting this target and understanding and tackling the environmental challenges that we face.  

While we must continue to support the UK’s researchers and innovators to solve today’s most pressing challenges and develop next-generation solutions, we recognise need to support this activity in an environmentally responsible way. 

UKRI’s 2020 environmental sustainability strategy commits to taking a lead in our own operations to be ‘net zero’ by 2040 at the latest, by embedding sustainability in our operations and investment decisions, while driving continual environmental improvement in the R&I sector. 

To support this UKRI has played a leading role alongside stakeholders from across the R&I sector to develop a draft environmental sustainability concordat. 

This aims to gain agreement from all organisations involved in research or innovation activities on immediate and consistent long-term action to reduce and eliminate environmental impacts and emissions associated with R&I.  

This will ensure research and innovation continues to play a critical part in understanding how our planet is changing, while helping us to act responsibly to protect and promote our environment. 

Why your views matter

The concordat will set out a challenging set of commitments for all signatories, including UKRI. Organisations will need to examine decision-making processes, innovate, and change their ways of working. 

This means the content and delivery of the concordat needs to take account of the views of all potential signatories to the concordat, or anyone that might be affected by it. 

We are therefore inviting feedback on a draft version of the concordat, with a survey open until Thursday 14th September. 

As well as filling in the survey, anyone with an interest can attend webinars where a panel from across the R&I sector involved in the development of the concordat will provide an overview of the concordat and answer questions. Details are below.

What happens next

The concordat will be finalised during autumn/winter 2023 with a view to launching the final version in January 2024. Once the concordat is launched, organisations across the UK Research and Innovation sector will be invited to become signatories, there will also be an option to become a formal supporter.

Events

  • Concordat webinar 1 (booking required)

    From 5 Sep 2023 at 15:00 to 5 Sep 2023 at 16:30

    Join us at one of our events for an overview of the new concordat and a Q&A session with a panel of stakeholders from across the R&I sector. Events are free and open to all but booking is required to receive joining link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/677279239437.

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

  • Concordat Webinar 2 (booking required)

    From 7 Sep 2023 at 10:00 to 7 Sep 2023 at 11:30

    Join us at one of our events for an overview of the new concordat and a Q&A session with a panel of stakeholders from across the R&I sector. Events are free and open to all but booking is required to receive joining link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/677279239437.

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

Audiences

  • Research Community
  • Innovation Community
  • Third Sector
  • Government
  • ECR forum
  • All Staff

Interests

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Research and Innovation Sector Engagement