SDG Case Study
These case studies demonstrate progress toward the UN SDGs, and are presented to support our submission to the THE Impact Ranking 2025.
Offer educational outreach activities for local or national communities to raise awareness about overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices
Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, lecturer in Global Sustainable Development, has worked in the area of overfishing and illegal, unreported fishing. A recent study, working with colleagues at Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, analysed stakeholders’ perceptions about their open-access fishing in Siera Leone’s marine fisheries, conducted through 32 key informant interviews.
This research found that while interviewees perceived that open-access fishing impacted fish stocks, most Sierra Leone’s marine capture fishers did not see open access as a cause of fish decline; instead, they blamed the lack of enforced regulations on the methods and extent of fishing. Accordingly, these fishers favoured the continuation of open access—not least because it helps to alleviate hunger and is a readily available source of protein in Sierra Leone’s coastal communities—but accompanied by strict regulations on both the type of fishing gear used and the quantity, size, and species of fish caught.
The central government’s resolve to regulate its fishery will determine whether it will transition from unregulated open access to regulated open access or other forms of OA. This study recommends detailed research into how to influence political will to enforce regulations.
Offer educational programme or outreach for local or national communities on sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture
Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, lecturer in Global Sustainable Development, was on the Satellite Panel at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona. My topic was on sustainable management of Africa's declining fish stocks. This Conference marked a pivotal moment to celebrate achievements and set joint priorities for the future of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), or ‘Ocean Decade’.
Offer educational programmes on fresh-water ecosystems (water irrigation practices, water management/conservation) for local or national communities
Our first-year GSD students have been brought into the global water management discourse. They learnt about the Transaqua proposal; an ambitious large-scale water transfer initiative that aims to hydrate Africa's shrinking Lake Chad by transferring water from the Congo River Basin through a 2,400-kilometer canal. Our students have identified the potential economic, social, and environmental impact of this proposal on communities in the Congo and the Lake Chad region, and they are currently working in groups to improve this proposal. This group project is 35% weighting for our first-year course, Introduction to Sustainable Development.
2023/24 Sustainability Report
UofG Sustainability Report 2024
National Centre for Resilience:
The National Centre for Resilience, hosted at the University of Glasgow and directed by Professor Fabrice Renaud, works in partnership Our steering group ensures close working ties with academic institutions, government and resilience professionals from regional and local authorities, the third sector and wider resilience communities.
The NCR is an academic research hub, using evidence to inform policy and practice. Hosted at the University of Glasgow and directed by Professor Fabrice Renaud, the centre helps bridge the gap between academia, policy and practice by promoting cross sector partnerships, encouraging each to learn from the other to improve resilience when planning for, responding to and recovering from natural hazard events.
Active members include Met Office, British Geological Survey, ClimateXChange, Ordnance Survey, The Natural Hazards Partnership, South of Scotland Resilience Partnership, The Scottish Government, Scottish Flood Forum.
The centre works collaboratively with NGOs, charities and third sector bodies to utilise existing knowledge and commission new projects to address real life issues faced by resilience practitioners and communities.
Our students are engaged in the programmes of work we do and volunteer in support of it. For example, as part of the development of the gaming project, students have volunteered to trial the game ahead of the project being rolled out. In addition, students will regularly volunteer in support of the events programme that is a key part of the NCR engagement activity.
This year the National Centre for Resilience has awarded funding to seven community-based projects, with the goal of enhancing community resilience across Scotland. Funded through the centre’s grant program, which was open to applications from across Scotland and the UK, the projects aim to improve flood resilience, bolster community emergency preparedness and support sustainable local supply chains to improve food security. This year’s project call included a ‘Third Sector Community & Practice’ fund with a focus on place-based resilience building open to applications up to £15,000. New for this year the call included a Community Councils Fund with a focus on supporting communities to develop their own resilience planning with smalls grants of £500.
The successful projects include Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) who have received funding for a multi-faceted resilience project with a focus on improving flood resilience.
The project will support the local community with improved flood resilience measures, training and communications whilst working to develop sustainable, nature-based solutions through the community and local environment.
Another recipient of this year’s funding is Propagate Scotland for their ‘Dumfries and Galloway Sustainable Food Partnership’ project. Their work focuses shortening food supply chains and enhancing community resilience by fostering stronger connections between producers and consumers.
The Dumfries and Galloway Sustainable Food Partnership is bringing together organisations from across sectors: Public sector such as the Local Authority and NHS, representatives from food business networks, farmers, community and voluntary sector and education. The project aims to work together for a fairer, healthier, and more resilient food system.
As part of this project, there is a D&G Local Food Gatherings event which is now in their 3rd year. The Gatherings are for people involved in food in different ways: Farmers and Growers, food business and hospitality, educators, health workers, policy makers, community food activists, food citizens and more.
Following a successful introduction of the ‘Community Council Fund’ the NCR will be funding 5 Community Councils across Scotland to undertake resilience planning.
The centre is also delivering a game project that will launch on this year – helping young people to learn about natural hazards and preparedness. This will be distributed for free into schools across Scotland.
National Centre for Resilience Awards Funding to Seven Projects Across Scotland
TransiT:
The TransiT project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at decarbonising the UK’s transport sector through advanced digital twin technology. This project, which began with a significant consultation phase in 2023, is led by a consortium of eight universities, including the University of Glasgow, focuses on creating virtual models (digital twins) of real-world transport systems, such as roads, railways and maritime networks. These digital twins collect real-time data from sensors and simulate various scenarios to identify the most sustainable, cost-effective pathways to decarbonise transport across different sectors, including road, rail, maritime and aviation.
The use of digital twins allows researchers to model and test potential solutions without the need for time[1]consuming and costly real-world trials. This is crucial, as the transport sector accounts for nearly a third of the UK’s carbon emissions. The digital twins also provide insights into future transport systems, including electric road systems and alternative fuels, enabling logistics companies to plan more sustainable routes, and policymakers to anticipate the consequences of their decisions.
Supported by £46 million from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council and industry partners, the project is also exploring new business models and policy frameworks to support Government and industry in the transition to a zero carbon future. The project is poised to deliver significant contributions towards the UK’s climate goals, serving as a blueprint for other sectors and nations to follow. The project is an example of one that makes an effective contribution to both local and national progress and policy development toward the ambition of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on SDG’s 7, 9, 11, 13 and 17.
Jo Shanmugalingam, the Second Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport, visited the University’s Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre to learn more about TransiT.
“It is fantastic to see the TransiT research hub become a reality thanks to collaboration between government, industry, and academia. This is an important step toward realising the potential of digital twins in decarbonising transport and the Department looks forward to continuing working closely with TransiT.”
TransiT - Digital Twinning for the Decarbonisation of UK Transport
Water Quality and Discharge:
We ensure that we adhere to Scottish Government guidelines and legislation in relation to water discharge and extraction, to uphold water quality and protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health and welfare. We work with Scottish Water as our partner who responsibilities include maintaining and improving the quality of all fresh and marine waters in Scotland and ensuring that water resources are managed and supplied responsibly
Where possible, as part of new developments like the Western Campus, clean surface water is separated at source, stored and discharged slowly direct to the River Kelvin. This allows any action to be taken in the event of pollution or accidental discharges. In the case of the Western Campus in Glasgow, this is achieved through an innovative ‘rain garden’ system that combines rainwater attenuation, micro treatment and biodiversity enhancement. The design enables students, staff and our local community to enjoy the gardens as part of an overall sustainable urban design programme.
The University works closely with Scottish Water, the organisation responsible for the supply of potable water and for treatment of wastewater in Scotland. An innovative project to extract heat from wastewater is a good example of this. The project is using innovative technology to capture waste heat from the nearby foul sewer pumping station at Partick in the West End of Glasgow. Heat extracted from the pumping station will be passed to a series of heat pumps and it the hot water will connect to the existing University district heating network. This circular and low carbon heat solution will reduce the University's carbon footprint for heat by at least 60% once it is commissioned.
Last Updated: 2024
Supporting the transition to Net Zero:
Our energy system faces a significant transition in the coming decades, as we move toward the various targets being set by local and national governments across a range of vectors. For example, the Scottish Government has a challenging net zero emissions target, an ambitious target to continue to generate the equivalent of 100% of electricity from renewables sources, and to see hydrogen and carbon capture technologies help advance our transition to a less carbon intensive future. The University of Glasgow aims to use our research excellence to support, advocate and provide a platform for dialogue around the challenges and impacts of such a change. By using our convening power, we bring together policy makers, academia, industry and our community to meet these challenges in partnership.
Scotland Beyond Net Zero is a landmark initiative which has been launched to bring together Scottish universities to address the climate emergency. Scotland Beyond Net Zero (SBNZ), founded jointly by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, aims to help the country meet – and go beyond – its ambition of achieving net zero by 2045.
The collaboration will catalyse action and empower government, policymakers, organisations and industry to make informed change to help Scotland reach its climate targets. The new venture will combine world-changing research, innovation and expertise in climate science and sustainability. It will address key challenges linked with the climate emergency, including clean energy, storage, decarbonisation, green transport, community empowerment and climate justice.
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “The climate emergency demands that all of us - academia, business, government and third sector organisations - step up our efforts to work more closely together. Scotland has immense potential to innovate to solve the stubborn challenges associated with achieving a fair and just transition to net zero, and in launching this coalition today we hope to encourage partners across the nation to join us and get involved with SBNZ.”
Scotland Beyond Net Zero will include a number of outreach events and workshops to build support across the academic sector, government and industry for the Net Zero Transition and the adoption of renewable and low carbon energy options. The electricity sector in Scotland already delivers renewable electricity equivalent to 100% of demand, and our research and advocacy helps to ensure this transition is technically, socially and economically beneficial, and that learnings can be adopted in other sectors.
About Scotland BNZ - Scotland Beyond Net Zero
The Centre for Sustainable Energy sees energy as a service to human development, and believes energy provision must be sustainable and accessible to all, avoiding unintended environmental and societal consequences. By taking a holistic, whole-system and life-cycle approach to energy, we can help tackle global sustainability challenges where the energy vector has a key role to play in supporting sustainable pathways to 2050 and beyond.
The Centre works closely with local communities, local authorities, charities and NGOs, national and international professional organisations, governments and industry, acting as a neutral platform for progressive dialogue among key stakeholders, facilitating advancements towards timely implementation of sustainable energy solutions at multiple scales. The Centre recently hosted Chris Stark, the UK Government’s Head of Mission Control for Clean Power 2030, at a strategy workshop which aimed to help shape the University’s future approach to research and collaboration in the field of sustainable energy.
University of Glasgow - Research - Research units A-Z - Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy
Our Centre for Public Policy also recently held an event, in collaboration with the Academy of Social Sciences and the International Public Policy Observatory, to discuss where we stand in the UK and internationally on the transition to net zero.
UofG approach to Net Zero emissions:
Glasgow Green outlines the context in which we are operating, reviews progress to date in reducing carbon emissions and sets out a route to ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions by 2030. In the final section, we identify a series of practical actions under five headings:
- Engaging and Empowering Our Community
- Promoting Efficiency
- Governance and Policy
- Continuous Improvement Initiatives
- Building Resilience through Partnerships
Engaging the University community more effectively is central to this strategy. We believe there are huge opportunities – people at all levels are treating the issue of climate change with a heightened sense of urgency and are willing the University to act. A second theme relates to the University’s place in the world – rather than being inward looking, we want to use our influence and expertise to address key challenges and inspire others to action.
At the same time, we need a strategy that is affordable and achievable – one which allows the University not only to fulfil its primary objectives, but to make sustainability an essential element in those objectives.
The strategy draws on discussions at Senior Management Group, Senate and the Student Experience Committee, consultation seminars with staff and students, and a wider survey. These discussions demonstrated that all sections of the University community agree that we need to go further and faster in addressing the climate emergency; there is also a consensus that we should monitor the impact of our actions and make our data public in an open and transparent manner. We have shared our climate plans and reports with our strategic partners across the city, including Glasgow City Council, and are members of Sustainable Glasgow. The University Director of Sustainability, Roddy Yarr, is also the Clyde Mission Net Zero lead, working in partnership across the City Region.
Our researchers also work work in partnership with Glasgow City Council to create transformation projects across the city and embed sustainability into the wider socio-political system. GALLANT builds on the Green Recovery Dialogues, a series of discussions between the University, Glasgow City Council, businesses and community groups. As a result of those conversations, we were able to identify areas for urgent action in the recovery from Covid toward achieving the city's net-zero climate resilience objectives.
GALLANT Community Collaboration – Community action for climate change mitigation
Finally, our Carbon Management Plan (CMP) sets out The University of Glasgow’s carbon reduction targets and objectives for 2020/21-2030/31. Our carbon footprint is assessed and compared to future projections to produce realistic goals. The CMP will act as a focal document, highlighting interventions which will deliver emissions reductions, and help us to reach our carbon footprint target of 27,000 tonnes of CO2e by 30/31. In addition, we commit to being net zero for carbon emissions by 2030.
University of Glasgow - MyGlasgow - Sustainability [for students & staff] - Carbon Management Plan
Arts & Music Events at University of Glasgow:
The University of Glasgow has a rich programme of events that cover a range of disciplines and interests. Our upcoming events page lists around 90 individual events that are programmed for the next 3 months.
University of Glasgow - University events - Event listings
One area where we a significant programme of activity is within music. Extra-curricular music making is an integral part of life on campus. Undergraduates, postgraduates, alumni and staff all contribute to the rich musical life of the University. If you want more information or wish to join one (or more) of the groups then a good first point of contact is the Music Club representative at the annual Freshers' Fair. With rehearsals of many open to the public, and numerous events that are free and open to public audiences, the number will be well in excess of 30 per annum. Examples of the ensembles and groups are set out below.
- University of Glasgow Big Band - Classic big band sounds, funk, latin, blues and soul. There are no formal auditions. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm.
- Cecilian Society - The University's foremost musical theatre society. The Society produces two shows per academic session. Both shows have an open chorus and there are auditions for principal parts.
- University of Glasgow Chapel Choir - An auditioned group of around 30 singers, for which all members of the University community are invited to audition. The Choir sings at 6:00pm on Tuesday evenings and rehearses on Sundays.
- University of Glasgow Choral Society - The University-wide choir, ideal for people with some experience of singing in choirs, and a basic ability to sight-read. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 5:15-6:45pm, on Zoom.
- Community Choir - The University's no-experience-required, life-enhancing choir! Wide repertoire including folk, pop and music from around the world. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45pm, on Zoom.
- Kelvin Ensemble – A student-run symphony orchestra providing the opportunity to learn and perform a wide variety of music in amazing venues. Auditions are held following an open rehearsal during Freshers’ Week.
- Madrigirls - An inclusive, upper-voice choir whose large and varied repertoire includes early, traditional and contemporary music. Madrigirls has around 40 singers and holds auditions in October.
- University of Glasgow Opera Society - A student-run society who aim to increase accessibility to opera for both performers and audiences.
- Music Club Folk Group - The largest student music society is an umbrella organisation comprising 10 student ensembles. All groups are non-audition, with the focus on the enjoyment of making music. Groups include: Brass, String, Percussion, Flute and Saxophone Ensembles, Wind Band, Jazz Society, Folk Group, and 2 choirs.
University of Glasgow - University events - Music in the University - Ensembles & Groups
The University also has a significant programme of Arts based events, many of which can be found at our College of Arts and Humanities webpage. These include short film series, performances, book readings etc..
University of Glasgow - Colleges - College of Arts & Humanities - About Us - Events
A further example, is the school of Social & Environmental Sustainability, who held an event to celebrate the film premiere of ecological filmmaker, John Wallace’s “Coastodians”, a short film made during a period of community engagement exploring how people connect with their marine and coastal environment. This work is part of an ambitious project called SCAMP (Solway Coast and Marine Project). SCAMP being developed by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s environment team with partners including the Solway Firth Partnership.