Balliol will once again mark Green Action Week from 23 – 27 February 2026, with a programme of events and initiatives designed to encourage sustainable choice across the College community. The week is supported by the Climate and Biodiversity Committee and is open to students, Fellows, and staff.
Food sustainability will be a key theme throughout the week, with Beef-Free Week taking place in Hall, highlighting the environmental benefits of plant-based eating. Midweek, the College will host Pint of Sustainability in the Gillis Lecture Theatre on 25 February from 5.00pm. This informal event will provide an opportunity for discussion around sustainability and climate change, with three talks delivered by Balliol undergraduate and graduate students.
Energy use will also be in the spotlight with the return of the Jowett Energy Competition, which sees Towers 4 and 6 at Jowett Walk go head-to-head to reduce heating energy consumption over the course of the week. The tower achieving the greatest reduction will be rewarded with a free pizza party for its residents. The results will be shared here in due course.
While Green Action Week provides a focal point for activity, the work of the Climate and Biodiversity Committee continues throughout the year. Current priorities include reducing waste and improving the sustainability of the College’s food sourcing, with an emphasis on local produce.
Derek Moulton (Professor of Applied Mathematics, Fellow and Tutor in Mathematics), who serves as Chair of the Climate and Biodiversity Committee, commented: ‘It is great to have some focussed events around Green Action Week, and hopefully we can keep working together, as a College community, to find solutions big and small towards a sustainable future.’