UON Sustainability Summit 2023: University of Northampton lays foundations for addressing local sustainability challenges

The University of Northampton will be hosting a meeting of minds between leading local professionals to establish a roadmap for improving sustainability within the county.

Taking place from May 15-16, the UON Sustainability Summit will provide a unique opportunity to bring together policy makers, local government, academics and businesses – particularly from the food and drink, footwear and logistics industries – to identify shared sustainability challenges and devise a long-term plan of action to address these.

The Summit will further unveil the ‘Northampton Sustainability Accord’, a commitment led by the University of Northampton to work collaboratively with each of the organisations attending the Summit to practically target those challenges through research, enterprise and knowledge exchange.

More than 40 expert speakers from invested organisations have already registered their attendance including Weetabix, SATRA, Sustainable Leather Foundation, IEMA, British Footwear Association, Cranfield University, Fresh Produce Consortium, Beanstalk Global, as well as both West and North Northamptonshire Councils.

University of Northampton’s Professor of Systems Thinking, Amin Hosseinian Far explains: “The Northampton Sustainability Accord will not simply be a piece of paper which sits in a cupboard and collects dust throughout the next year.

“It will be a practical roadmap for local businesses, industries and stakeholders to identify their responsibilities in contributing towards improving sustainability within Northamptonshire and beyond. It will go further with recognising valuable opportunities to work collaboratively in order to achieve progress ahead of the Summit’s return in 2024.”

Associate Professor in International Sustainable Development Law and Chair of the of the planning committee for the UON Sustainability Summit, Dr Ebenezer Laryea adds: “Here at the University of Northampton, we’re excited to introduce the Sustainability Summit in keeping with our long record of showing the necessary leadership when it comes to tackling sustainability challenges and supporting the wider stakeholder community.

“Northampton’s town centre is currently going through a considerable period of renovation, which means it’s the perfect time to identify our shared sustainability challenges and begin working on the solutions we could develop together to address these.

“It’s encouraging to already see so many commercial partners and local industry professionals planning to attend the Summit and be part of the solution. For the sake of our future generations, we must work collaboratively today to ensure their tomorrow.

“Together, we can place our hands on the arch of history and bend it towards the hope of a brighter day. Join us on the 15th and 16th of May as we begin a journey together towards addressing our share sustainability challenges. Be part of the solution – be there!”

Find out more information on Sustainability at UON.