Chris Macdonald

University of Cambridge

I strive to surround myself with sustainability projects. I am in the final stages of my PhD which explores practical ways to increase sustainable behaviour, I’m also working on two additional research papers that explore sustainable diets, and I’m writing my third book on sustainability which explores the transition to net zero (ten trees planted for every book sold). And, keen to do more, I am helping Lucy Cavendish College in its mission to become more sustainable.

This has involved a range of tasks, from drafting a new college food policy to simply donating some staple less staplers to our printing room. Smaller tasks such as putting up energy posters led to bigger wins along the way, such as organising free bicycle training for all students and banning single-use plastic water bottles.

I also launched a community biodiversity project, and more recently, I completed a litter picking marathon.

Top 3 Learnings

1. I've seen that initiating a positive project can trigger a powerful ripple effect.
2. When it comes to climate action, starting small can help to build momentum.
3. Collaborating with others has been vital to the success of our projects.