Science Parks join International Sustainability Subnetwork

Surrey Research Park launched a global sustainability subnetwork at the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) conference last month, with representatives from over 20 countries signed up already.

The global representation of members that have joined the group is extensive from South and Central America, Asia, Africa and Europe.  Home to innovative companies, in addition to managing substantial real estate and land assets, Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (AOI) have an important role to play in limiting the global temperature increase.

The International Association of Science Parks has established the global Sustainability Subnetwork, with Surrey Research Park leading the initiative. The primary aim of the network will be sharing best practice in energy and environmental sustainability to accelerate the effectiveness of local activities.

The 2021 United Nation Climate Change Conference saw all 197 countries reaffirm their pledge to the Paris Agreement of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C, and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. To achieve this there will need to be fundamental changes to real estate and working practices for new and especially existing science and technology parks, with Park owners having to work ever more closely with Tenants, on energy and wider environmental sustainability activities in areas such as water, food, soil, waste and biodiversity.

In the coming year, the international subnetwork will focus on:

• Regulatory change with associated lessons learned
• Practical changes to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating against emergent climate change impacts (e.g., risk of flooding)
• Practical changes associated with wider environmental factors (waste, water, food etc)

• Practical changes in social value / wellbeing

• STP/AOI – tenant (and potentially wider) partnerships in implementing the above

For more information on the International Association of Science Park view www.iasp.ws.

If you would like further information on the sustainability subnetwork please contact [email protected].

In addition, Surrey Research Park has set up a Sustainability Working Group for its community in Surrey. The next meeting will take place in November (date tbc) and if you would like further information, please contact [email protected].