“We can’t have climate justice without social justice”: EEO Helena Ratcliffe on her climate journey

Sustainability on campus is becoming an increasingly important topic for so many students. One person keen to make meaningful change at Warwick is Helena Ratcliffe, this year’s Environment and Ethics Officer (EEO) for Warwick Students’ Union. Speaking to The Boar, Ratfcliffe takes us through her plans for this academic year, how she thinks students can be more sustainable, and her recommendations for those who would like to know more about the climate crisis.

As co-lead of your sixth form climate committee, what made you such a passionate climate campaigner?

Ratcliffe brought up her political household, citing that her parents made sure she was always engaged in politics. She believes climate change is a political issue and explained how this belief led her to climate campaigning. She thinks that it is difficult for us, the younger generation, to turn a blind eye to climate change, as much of the burden of it has shifted to us, despite it not being our burden to face. This led to her joining the climate committee at her school to gain solidarity with the feelings of hopelessness she and other young people have in relation to the crisis.

What does sustainability mean to you, both from the lens of climate justice and an ethical standpoint?

“For me, the fight for sustainability is very much intersectional. It intersects with the fight for liberation of other marginalised people, and we can’t have climate justice without social justice,” she said.

The SU Officer affirmed how to her, sustainability is about ensuring accessibility for everyone. She acknowledged that campaign work is not easy for all, especially university students, who may struggle financially to afford ethical brands. She cited the Community Fridge scheme as an example, as it reduces food waste and provides students with free food. She also brought up the ‘Green Careers Fair,’ hosted by students last year, which gave students access to sustainable and ethical careers.

What are your plans as EEO over the next academic year?

Ratcliffe said that by the end of her tenure as EEO, one of her main goals is to see the university’s sustainability rankings rise in the People and Planet league, especially in the sustainable food category, where the University of Warwick is currently 82^nd place out of 149 institutions. She cited that one of our lowest categories, according to the rankings, was sustainable food, and referred to the Community Fridge as one of the initiatives she’s most excited for. She intends to add another fridge to a more frequently visited location on campus, such as the Students’ Union, as the only Community Fridge on campus currently is hidden away in the Chemistry Department.

She is also planning on campaigning for ethical AI use alongside climate justice. She explained how AI has detrimental effects on the climate and local environment, from deforesting the land to the large volumes of water needed to cool down the data centres.  She mentioned how AI is currently built into many university and SU systems. She intends to pressure the University not to actively encourage the use of AI in certain departments and to reduce partnerships with companies that are well-known for using it.

Which initiatives do you think will be most difficult to implement, and how are you planning on mitigating this?

The EEO believes that pushing for partners she views as ethical will be her biggest challenge this year, as everyone will have different views on what ‘ethical’ should mean. She views an ‘ethical’ company as one that is sustainable, not actively harming the environment, with a full sustainable policy they follow, and not giving aid or funding to Israel. She recognises the university receives funding and internship opportunities for its students from these companies, so cutting ties will be easier said than done, but she wants to represent the student body as best as she can on what they view as ‘ethical’ as well. She recalled previous success stories from students, such as removing Starbucks from campus, so she believes it is possible to pressure the university in this aspect although it may be difficult.

What are some ways you suggest students get involved in sustainability initiatives?

Ratcliffe started by recommending through the SU, such as the sustainability forum. She emphasised forums as an important way to get involved as they allow students to ensure they have a say in university policies, commenting that “not many students” typically sign up for this. She suggested taking part in societies to strengthen the student network of climate activists and build solidarity within these groups, such as Climate Justice, Plant-Based Universities (this is not SU-affiliated, but a movement), VegSoc, Warwick Sustainability, and Left Society. Ratcliffe added that she’s very enthusiastic about students coming to her with their suggestions or ideas because she represents the student body and would like to echo their concerns in the best way she can. She also directed students to the Make A Change platform, where one can suggest ideas for the SU to implement.

How would you suggest students be sustainable in their own lives?

As a fellow Leamington commuter, Ratcliffe recommended taking the bus to campus as one of the easiest ways to practise being sustainable. One of her favourite tips is to re-use Circle costumes, joking about how she often makes her costumes through paper or things she finds lying around. Bringing your own cup to campus, she adds, gives you a discount in places, like Curiousitea and Caffe Nero. She thinks the most important thing is engaging in campaigning as it allows you to channel your passion about the climate crisis into activism, which also can also improve personal wellbeing and promote causes across campus.

For students who want to become more educated in sustainability, do you have any recommendations on books, podcasts, movies etc?

Ratcliffe maintained the stance that climate campaigning goes hand in hand with political campaigning, bringing up Zach Polanski’s podcast, Bold Politics. In the podcast, he talks about sustainability and its links with other struggles. She finds his thoughts on ‘Eco populism’ especially interesting, citing how this can be used to combat the far right with a new form of populism centred around the wellbeing of both the environment and us.  “I think being from this generation it’s important to read writers in the same boat as us. It helps you feel solidarity in the movement,” she said, praising Greta Thunberg’s book, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference. Ratcliffe also enjoys learning about the scientific aspect of the climate crisis to improve her own knowledge on the topic and redirect that into the campaign. She recommends The Next Crisis: What We Think About the Future by Danny Dorling, although she joked that he can be a bit pessimistic at times.