Environment
The UMSU Environment Department is an open and welcoming space dedicated to Sustainability and advocating for the Environment, Native Animals, our Neighbourhoods and creating a safer, cleaner and greener future for all!
In the face of ever worsening bushfires, floods and "freak" weather events, we want to be an activist department that brings students together to envision and build towards a better future for us, our animals, and our waterways and landscapes. We want to empower students and give them the skillset to be good stewards or nature and ready to push for a more sustainable and fossil free planet. The Environment Department is underpinned by decolonisation and indigenous knowledges, so we can truly tackle climate change head on. We belive on empowering students to enact real tangible change across the individual, community and systemic scales. You can expect to see from the department;
- Meaningful Sustainability Seminars, Forum, Workshops and events for students.
- Running Student Thrift markets, Gardening workshops, Learn how to cook events, Film screenings, Enviro Trivia and more!
- Collaborating with existing clubs to amplify their work with greater resources and connectivity!
- Campaigining for clean, green and sustainable policies and investments within UMSU and the University.
- The Environment Collective; bringing together the student community passionate about making a positive difference.
Care about the environment and activism? Follow us on Instagram @umsuenviro and sign up to our Newsletter to make sure you’re kept up to date with our latest updates and events! <3 (:
Acknowledgment of Country
The Environment Department acknowledges the the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the and and waters on which we work, learn and live.
We recognise that our environmental work is shaped by the devastating and ongoing colonisation that disrupts how Country has been protected and cared for by Indigenous people over many tens of thousands of years. It is important to acknowledge this in order to ensure that all of our environmental efforts centre indigenous and decolonial knowledge and perspectives.
Climate Justice
The UMSU Environment Department believes that tackling the climate crisis is about justice, and divesment from all carbon intensive industries such as weapons manufacturing and fossil fuels. Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it affects marginalized communities such as Indigenous peoples, low-income groups, and those in the Global South the most and they bear the brunt of the greatest impacts, despite contributing the least to the problem.
We know that real climate action needs to be fair, inclusive, and focused on systemic change to redefine our approach to the climate using Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of being. As students in Australia which is one of the world’s wealthiest countries and a major fossil fuel user and exporter, we have the heaviest responsibility to push for solutions that are both green and underpinned by justice. By learning, advocating, taking action together, and decolonising our institutions we can help create a future that protects people and the planet. 💚🌏