“I believe that the greatest contribution we can make to climate change as a University lies in the power of educating people to understand and make wise decisions for the future and through the research we undertake (in technology, social sciences and economics)”

With the start of COP26, the eyes of the world are on Glasgow as leaders from across the globe gather. There is hope – and, no doubt, determination – to make this summit count and for meaningful progress to be made towards tackling our climate emergency. It may feel like an insurmountable task, coordinating the actions of individuals and households, businesses and organisations, countries and governments. And without tackling the biggest issues, do the small steps matter? But it is only by pulling all the levers at our disposal that progress will be made.

Our University is committed to playing its part in tackling climate change. We are leading the way with ground-breaking, global research, involving a large number of our academics across all our campuses. We are now the virtual home of the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), a collaboration of many organisations committed to tackling industrial decarbonisation, led by the UK Champion for Industrial Decarbonisation, our own Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valer.

This week the University’s governing body, The Court, had the opportunity to discuss our pathway to net-zero and how we plan to do this as a multi-national university. This is a conversation for all of us. For me, this is not a cause of panic but a need to step up our leadership and collective ambition and to be confident we can, and will, make change happen. It’s an opportunity to be purposeful in making change happen and relish the opportunities ahead for us in this. Whereas the general tone of conversation is of panic, despair and, for many, mental anguish. This theme of ambition and determination to hasten transition is very much at the heart of the outcome of our recent Hutton Debates at Panmure House. I believe that the greatest contribution we can make to climate change as a University lies in the power of educating people to understand and make wise decisions for the future and through the research we undertake (in technology, social sciences and economics).

I am pleased to announce FIVE important steps that we are taking as we commence our journey to lead out:

  • The University governing body has approved Ten Recommendations for action and priority in our journey to net zero. These will be implemented in action plans developed as part of our ongoing planning process. Our own sustainability goals consider our actions as an organisation, from our buildings and campuses, to our students and colleagues, which is not only important as a global citizen but also in acting as a leader for others to follow.
  • I am pleased to announce today that I intend to appoint a new role of Deputy Principal in Global Sustainability to lead out our ambition internally and externally to ensure we can contribute to the challenge of being globally fossil free within a generation. We are one of the few Universities in the UK to signal our ambition and serious intent in this way.
  • This week we have published the Recommendations of the Hutton Series Debates from Panmure House, that have taken place over the last 12 months or so. There was one simple aim – to identify ten key priorities, innovations and actions to mitigate the climate crisis. Please take a moment to look at the recommendations. And once again, Panmure House acts as the centre of essential debate and social thinking.
  • Next year we will develop, as an integral part of our collective understanding and response, a Net Zero Community Hub as a place of education, demonstration of our own technologies and models and as a ‘go-to’ place for discussion on this critical topic. This hub will have a physical building in Edinburgh and virtual twin online.
  • The University will establish a Global Research Institute in Net Zero, bringing together from across the disciplines our research and frontier education.

I look forward to our critical community dialogue and actions ahead and the contribution Heriot-Watt will make as we look ahead from our Bicentenary to be proactive in shaping the next century in its creation and deployment of resources.

Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor