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Sustainability & Climate Action Hub

The world faces a climate emergency and the past twelve months have reinforced and heightened awareness on why we need to collectively act and address this huge challenge.

Climate action will require significant changes to the ways in which colleges function and to the businesses and industries that colleges support, with traditional jobs and roles disappearing whilst new ones are created. Policy priority and investment is now being signalled by the UK Government to achieve ambitious carbon reduction targets.

Colleges will need to play a pivotal role both as educators and system leaders to affect change to the scale which will be required and the opportunities for colleges and support available.

Student surveys overwhelmingly show that this is the most important issue affecting their future and they are demanding action. The green thread needs to weave through whole college strategies from estates and governance to curriculum planning to address the crisis.

This page gives an overview of the work currently underway in this area and where to find more information.

Joint agreement on guidance for a Just Transition Framework in Further Education Colleges

Just-Transition-Joint-Agreement-June-2025.pdf

With the COP26 summit finished and following the publication of the government’s Net Zero Strategy, AoC has published a new report, The Green College Commitment.

How we support members

We support DfE to review sustainability strategies, provide detailed responses to government, and attend APPG meetings in Westminster looking at green skills and green jobs. We also work closely with a number awarding bodies and IfATE to ensure sustainability qualifications are developed and prioritised.

The AoC Sustainability and Climate Change Reference group meet three times per year with over 40 colleges represented who contribute to AoC policy development and share intelligence and opportunities. The group members host events and networks in their respective regions that bring colleges together.

We provide a monthly briefing on sustainability and offer advice and support along with connecting you to colleges and partners who can assist you.

Supporting our members: What we are doing

We provide support and advice to colleges through our member services.