Erin Smith is a second-year undergraduate ecology student running for Sustainability Officer this year. Passionate about climate justice, holding the university to account, and investigating where the university falls short on sustainability, Brig discussed Erin’s manifesto for the Sustainability Officer position.
The Sustainability Officer is responsible for working towards the Union’s environmental campaigns whilst embedding the Union’s work on the UN sustainable development goal.
Inspiration for running for Sustainability Officer
Opening the interview with a kind smile and enthusiasm, Erin told me about what inspired her to run for sustainability officer. She had identified issues with communication, action, and accountability following some struggles in learning about sustainability at the university.
“Information isn’t super accessible unless you’re in the meetings,
“We can’t kick up a fuss when they do something wrong because no one knows that they say they’re going to do it”
By communicating more information, Erin told me that the “student body is more able to hold the university accountable” as the transparency allows for information to be shared clearly, helping students to recognise sustainability efforts and confidently push for what they want to see.
Community Food Initiative
Part of Erin’s manifesto is continuing to work on the community food initiative, in order to accept more food donations from local supermarkets. This will reduce food waste in the area whilst providing students and staff with more access to food.
Erin is already involved in this scheme and is keen to use the position of sustainability officer to encourage the university’s funding and involvement in the CFI.
“We can accept more donations markets to prevent the food waste from the supermarkets but also to help students and staff access good food.”
Using Renewable Energy
Erin is keen to encourage the university to become a renewable energy campus. Erin told me that:
“Of the university’s energy, 60% of that comes from gas which is worse than the National Grid – we use more fossil fuels than the National Grid.”
Erin plans to use her position as sustainability officer to hold the university to its promise of “developing green and cost-effective alternatives to our Combined Heating and Power”, helping the University of Stirling to become greener and more sustainable.
Making Sustainable Travel Accessible
The next goal of Erin’s manifesto is to understand and remove barriers that may prevent students from using bikes as a method of transport.
By working with the Active Travel Coordinator, making cycling more popular with students and helping to build confidence and accessibility will assist in travel to campus being more sustainable, and having a smaller CO2 output as a community.
Environmental Justice
Finding environmental justice is a key aspect of Erin’s passion for the environment and sustainability.
“By acknowledging that this system that has got us into this mess is responsible for many other injustices and we have to tackle all of them at the same time,
“Any solution that I work for I will make sure that it challenges the powers of injustice in the world,
“I will do that by actively reaching out to people who it might affect, I’m putting a lot of effort into thinking about the different people it will affect and reaching out to them now.”
Erin ended the interview with a powerful final statement, reflecting her passion for the role:
“There will be no climate justice without social justice.”
Voting for Stirling’s Student Union Elections opens on February 25 and closes on February 27, with results announced on February 28.
Featured Image Credit: Erin Smith
Journalism student at the University of Stirling & BRAW Magazine editor 24/25 and 25/26 🙂
You can see my portfolio here: https://www.clippings.me/alicepollard
