Sustainability at RCS
Sustainability at RCS
Sustainability takes centre stage at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As the nation’s conservatoire, we are committed to embedding sustainability into every aspect of our operations.
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Climate, Sustainability, & Creativity
At the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, we are committed to ensuring our practices, performances and policies are carried out in the most sustainable way possible. We have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment and continue to seek new and innovative ways to improve the sustainability of our operations.
These include:
- Ensuring we reduce our carbon footprint year-on-year
- RCS is now in the final stages of both divesting from direct holdings in oil, gas and mining and also investing up to 15% in companies specialising in renewable energy.
- Delivering a long-running LED light installation programme that is significantly more energy efficient.
- Gaining approval in principle to introduce the first phase of solar energy at the Renfrew Street campus.
- Operating a campus energy monitoring system and motion sensor lighting.
- Committing zero waste to landfill.
- Cycle Friendly Campus Award from Cycling Scotland that recognises our commitment to encouraging and promoting cycling as a healthy, sustainable mode of transport for all.
Our Sustainability Committee reports to the RCS Academic Board and the Board of Governors with goals to increase awareness, visibility and accountability of sustainable practice across our community. The committee has representation from across learning and teaching, the Students’ Union, central production, estates and professional services.
The RCS Sustainability Committee welcomes all suggestions from students and staff to further the sustainability of our campus and how we operate. We’re keen to learn from other organisations and share ideas and good practices. Get in touch with us by emailing sustainability@rcs.ac.uk
Our Commitment to Net Zero
At the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), we recognise the urgent environmental, social, and ecological challenges facing our world. As educators and global citizens, we are dedicated to taking meaningful action to address these issues and empowering our community to contribute towards a sustainable future.
We are committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045, with maximum effort towards halving the emissions within our control by 2030. Guided by our Strategy 2030: People, Place, Promise, sustainability is at the heart of our vision. We aim to integrate environmentally responsible practices across all areas of our operations, fostering a community that nurtures, supports, and celebrates sustainable and inclusive art making, from grassroots to world-leading performance and production.
Our sustainability goals centre on:
- People: Cultivate a community that is informed, engaged, and proactive in promoting sustainability
- Place: Reducing the environmental impact of our facilities and operations
- Promise: Driving continuous improvement and accountability in our sustainability efforts
As part of the UN’s Education Race to Zero campaign, we are committed to leading by example, using education, artistic practice, and research as catalysts for change. Together, we are shaping a resilient and sustainable future for the performing arts and the planet.
Resources & Further Information
Green Reading
Looking to educate yourself on climate justice, mitigate climate anxiety, or simply learn more about the role of the arts and performance in the fight against climate change?
The Whittaker Library has pulled together a list of books, articles and resources, titled ‘Climate Change and Arts in the Anthropocene’, available on the RCS Portal.
What Art Can Do
The world united to tackle climate change in Glasgow in November 2021. As Scotland’s national conservatoire, RCS engaged with these important conversations through creativity and performance, and has now collated these projects in a new digital publication, ‘What Art Can Do: Making Performance in Times of Crisis‘.
COP26 is over, but the challenges we face continue, and this publication invites the conversation to develop, and new ideas to emerge.
Have Your Say
We want to hear from you about ways that we can be more sustainable at RCS. No matter how big or small your idea, share your suggestions and comments with us here.