Citizen Writes
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Universities are catalysts for global environmental action
2025-11-04
By Professor Heiko Balzter, Director of the Institute for Environmental Futures
The world stands at a critical juncture. Climate change is no longer a distant threat, it is a present reality. In the UK, 2025 marked the second-worst crop harvest on record, surpassed only by 2024, due to prolonged drought and extreme heat. These events are not isolated; they are part of a global pattern of intensifying climate impacts. At the same time, a coordinated disinformation campaign seeks to undermine climate science and derail net zero policies, shifting public discourse away from environmental urgency.
In this context, the role of universities has never been more vital. As we approach COP30, the global climate summit, universities must assert themselves as leaders in environmental transformation. They are not only centres of learning but also engines of innovation, collaboration, and civic engagement. Universities generate the knowledge that underpins climate policy, educate future leaders, and serve as trusted voices in an increasingly polarized landscape.
The University of Leicester exemplifies this mission. With a legacy rooted in remembrance and renewal after the First World War, our civic commitment now extends to environmental leadership. Ranked 5th in the UK and 26th globally for research quality by Times Higher Education, Leicester is a hub where sustainability is embedded across disciplines and operations.
Our pioneering Earth Observation research uses satellite data to monitor deforestation, air pollution and climate dynamics, translating global insights into local action. Space Park Leicester, a collaboration between academia and industry, is helping governments and communities reduce emissions and build resilience. Leicester’s identity as a “Space City” reflects the transformative power of university-led innovation.
At the Institute for Environmental Futures, we embrace a systems-thinking approach to the climate and nature crisis. We bring together environmental scientists, engineers, data analysts, social scientists and policy experts to work across disciplinary boundaries. Our transdisciplinary model fosters creative problem-solving and real-world impact, in partnership with NGOs, industry, and international bodies including the United Nations.
As COP30 convenes global leaders to accelerate climate action, universities must be at the table – not only as knowledge providers but as change-makers. We must embed sustainability in every decision: from research and teaching to campus operations and community partnerships. The climate crisis demands cooperation across nations, sectors, and perspectives. Universities are uniquely positioned to bridge these divides and empower the next generation of leaders.
At Leicester, we see ourselves as Citizens of Change. Our work connects the global with the local, the scientific with the civic, and the academic with the actionable. In the face of disinformation and division, universities must stand firm as beacons of truth, hope, and transformation.