UN Sustainable Development Group 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

SDG Outputs

We had 22 outputs relevant to this SDG in 2022 according to SciVal and 21 in 2021.

Mahaya, C., et al. (2022) Solar Access Assessment in Semi-Arid Urban Context: An Application Study for Ten Urban Forms of Existing Apartment Buildings Districts in Batna City, Algeria.  Sustainable Cities and Society 83 

DOI:10.1016/j.scs.2022.103909 

Lourdes et al. (2022) Planning for green infrastructure using multiple urban ecosystem service models and multicriteria analysis. Landscape and Urban Planning  226 

DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104500 

Overview

As an anchor institution in our city of Lincoln, it is incredibly important to us to work with our local communities. Our local partnerships are working to improve the resilience and sustainability of our home city of Lincoln includes being founder members of the Lincoln Climate Commission.

The Commission was co-founded by the University, the City of Lincoln Council, and local community groups, and the University of Lincoln's involvement in the Commission has burgeoned with many of the original delivery group members, who work at the university, developing the terms of reference and structures and governance of the commission in a consensus-based way. Members of University staff have also been integral in positioning the Commission as a member of the UK Place-based Climate Action Network, a consortium of Climate Commissions from around the UK.

This engagement has now moved beyond the University’s staff to include the many students we have at Lincoln. Students within The Department of Geography have contributed to local climate policy documents such as the Lincolnshire Impacts Profile and chaired sub-groups of the Commission to get real world experience of local climate policymaking and governance.

University involvement in the Commission is now at a critical stage as members are now working towards engaging the general public more closely in local climate governance. They have also recently published a 2030 Climate Action Plan to provide an evidence base to inform local, regional, and national policy making to address the climate emergency.

Adaptive and Resilient Coastal Communities

Our commitment to collaboration to improve the sustainability of Lincolnshire communities is further exemplified by research in the south of Lincolnshire in collaboration with local government that was directed towards improving the resilience of communities to flooding risk. The project called Adaptive and Resilient Coastal Communities was commended by local government leaders as being hugely important due to the physical and social challenges faced on the Lincolnshire Coast both now and in the future. The work contributed by the University of Lincoln complimented their previous understanding of flood risk and brought this together with the social and economic challenges such as health, deprivation, and the demographic of the population. This gave them a far greater understanding of the pressures and vulnerability of the communities and businesses on the coast, and provides an excellent platform to move forward in considering a long-term plan for thriving coastal communities.

Carbon LEAF

Recognising that designing and supporting truly sustainable buildings requires full whole life emissions analysis covering the intended lifetime of the building, Carbon LEAF was set up to offer a services to a range of clients. Based in our School of Architecture and the Built Environment, this team of specialist architects, building physicists, BREEAM assessors, and experts can offer a range of support to business undertaking low carbon construction projects.

Education

All of our Architecture programmes are designed to equip students with the understanding and skills they will need to operate effectively within a globalised, innovation-driven economy, with sustainability being a core element. Course content is informed by current trends and developments in both practice and the built environment sector, utilising industry-standard equipment and technologies. Our links with local design practices and key organisations in the construction industry provide opportunities for live briefs and work experience. Our ambition is to educate students to the highest professional standards and to nurture confident graduates who will make a positive difference in the world. 

Our Geography students are also making contributions to sustainable city planning through placement project work around the city. Geography student Matthew Gurnhill has been praised for his work during a placement with Lincoln City Council, where he worked in the Environment and Sustainability Department analysing whether key services in the city were accessible to residents within a 15-minute walk or cycle ride. He found that this was largely the case in Lincoln, contributing to planners’ understanding of sustainability in the city.

Sustainable Campus

As a rapidly growing University with over 14,000 students and 1,500 staff, we know that our activities will have an impact on the environment. This is why we’re working to reduce the negative impact of our operations, whilst also finding opportunities to make a positive impact.

The purpose-built Ross Lucas Medical Sciences Building was completed in March 2021 incorporating lecture theatres, laboratories, a clinical skills suite with consultation rooms, a prosection anatomy suite, and a bio-medical and health sciences library. It is the most sustainable building on the University Estate and features both solar panels and a living wall. This thermally efficient building is designed to minimise energy consumption, and is the new benchmark for future buildings.

Our Sustainability team, based in the Estates Department, is working hard to reduce energy consumption and utilise our estate as a resource to improve biodiversity and support environmental sustainability projects. This team supports the University to maintain the internationally recognised ISO14001 standard for Environmental Management, the ISO5001 standard for Energy Management, and the EcoCampus Platinum award.

Lincoln Conservation

Lincoln Conservation is a specialist in the conservation and restoration of the interior and exterior features of listed and historic buildings, historic artefacts, easel paintings and historic paint. Their work has made a significant contribution to the protection of the UK’s cultural heritage.

Saving Alexandria

Dr Amira Elnokaly, an architect in the Lincoln School of Architecture and the Built Environment has led a collaborative project to restore some of Alexandria’s most impressive buildings, reinvigorate its culture, and create dynamic new business models to ensure the city thrives into the future. Research by Dr Elnokaly addressing the importance of cultural heritage in urban regeneration led to her being consulted by a leading Egyptian property development company to advise on the redevelopment.

Lincoln Conservation

Consultancy

Lincoln Conservation is a specialist in the conservation and restoration of the interior and exterior features of listed and historic buildings, historic artefacts, easel paintings, and historic paint. Their work has made a significant contribution to the protection of the UK’s cultural heritage.

Staff walking down stairs in the Joseph Banks Laboratories

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.