Dozens of students and staff from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) participated in the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20th September 2019, estimated to be the largest climate strike in history with over 4 million people participating in over 4500 locations across the world. Students based in Mile End marched by the Green Bridge in Mile End before they were joined by BL students on Whitechapel Road outside The Royal London Hospital, stopping traffic in both directions.

The group, at its largest made up of a mix of university students & staff, primary & secondary school students from the local area, parents, doctors, other professionals and members of the public, then proceeded to Altab Ali Park where leaders of the march proceeded to address the crowd. The spotlight was quickly shone on QMUL’s resistance to declaring a climate emergency; their only response so far has been a lukewarm message of support for the strikes.

“As a University, we are proud that our students and staff are responsible global citizens engaged deeply with the global issues of our time. We are also proud to be working with the Greater London Authority, Tower Hamlets Council and other partners, together with the UK government, to address the global challenge of climate change. For further information, please see our environmental and sustainability commitments here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/about/sustainability/.”

QMUL Spokesperson

 QMUL, trailing in 83rd place in the People & Planet’s Green University League, have been under pressure from the Students’ Union to declare a climate emergency since the launch of a petition by the QMSU Sustainability Officers 2018/19 & 2019/20 four months ago. Climate emergencies have been declared by numerous Universities, such as Manchester, Glasgow, Exeter, Keele, Winchester, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol & Goldsmiths amongst others, as well as by Tower Hamlets Council, Parliament and the Mayor of London. It is notable too that there is not a single mention of the climate or environment in the University’s newly launched 2030 strategy – it seems to not be one of the University’s priorities.

Climate marches are expected to increase in frequency at Queen Mary in the months that follow with students and especially Executive Officers placing it high on their agenda (see BLSA President Megan Annett’s statement below) – it remains to be seen whether the University will bow to pressure.

“Climate change is a social injustice, it disproportionally affects the poor. The countries in the Global South are facing the consequences of carbon emissions predominantly produced by the Global North. In countries such as the UK those worse affected by the extreme temperature and flooding are yet again, not the corporations pumping out chemicals and gases, but the more vulnerable in our society. As students, many of whom are facing careers in healthcare, it is our duty to make a stand to the University, Tower Hamlets and the wider organisations and governments who can make a difference. Please keep an ear/ eye out and show support at the next protest.”

Megan Annetts, BLSA President

What is a climate emergency?

Activists across the world are asking their universities, businesses and governments to declare a climate emergency, but what does that mean in practice? Essentially, a climate emergency can be a simple as a declaration of emergency, as was passed by the UK Government in May (no subsequent action seems to have been taken).

Most activists are demanding something more meaningful than a PR stunt - such as a set of concrete actions to accompany a declaration. Many universities have done just that, such as Keele University, who have declared they aim to be carbon neutral by the year 2030. Goldsmith University of London have perhaps been the most ambitious of all; from this academic year, they have banned the sale of all beef products on campus and introduced a 10p levy on single use plastic among other measures.