University of Lincoln

A festival for the future

Over the last three years, the University of Lincoln has been developing a cross collaborative series of events for a city-wide Climate Action Festival (CAF), created with both University and local community in mind. The weeklong schedule of events includes art exhibitions, educational workshops, biodiversity walks, performances, and partnerships with the Students’ Union and other stakeholders, all related to climate action. The University’s small sustainability team steers the festival with positive engagement at the forefront.

The festival is directed by one team member with support of the 2 other members. Design work, communications and event planning is all done in house.

The objective of the CAF is to work collaboratively with our stakeholders to provide a proactive, positive, and engaging schedule of activities and events that raise the profile of sustainability across the city and encourage all to “make one change” and be more nature positive in their actions.

What the Judges Thought

The festival is a really interesting and exciting concept with an impressive scope and a wide range of participants. There are clearly ambitious plans for future events, growth and permanence. Judges felt the project stood out by celebrating positivity and joy linked to sustainability action. A great example of visible leadership coming from HE, which could be replicated successfully across the sector but feels truly innovative.

What it Means to Win

"Receiving this Green Gown Award is a welcome recognition of our vision to embed sustainability as a core value running across all the activities of the University of Lincoln. Our research is delivering significant environmental and social benefits, including carbon capture and storage, biodiversity gain, flood mitigation and food security. We believe that, in addition to reducing our own carbon footprint and being a Nature Positive University, we can make a very significant impact by working with our local community and leading the local transition to a Net Zero future."

Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor

Top 3 Learnings

1. Community led climate action is a positive force in engaging people in our institution.
2. Our University can help lead the conversation on climate action and biodiversity across the city.
3. We found art an integral part of engaging people otherwise not interested in sustainability.