SDG 13 - Climate Action
Research
Dr Hasan Baig, Senior Lecturer at UEL’s School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, leads impactful research in sustainable energy technologies with a focus on decarbonising buildings and transport. With more than 12 years of expertise in sustainable energy, Dr Baig specialises in cutting-edge photovoltaic (PV) technologies, including building-integrated photovoltaics, hybrid PV-thermal systems, and solar heating and cooling. His work extends to hydrogen and desalination technologies, aiming to achieve net-zero targets through efficient energy solutions.
In 2023, Dr Baig presented two significant studies at the 18th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The first study, titled Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a Solar Air Heater with Triangular Ducts, investigates ways to enhance the efficiency of solar air heaters, contributing to advancements in renewable energy. The second project, Waste Energy Collection and Conversion Using Advanced Thermophotovoltaic Systems, examines innovative methods to capture and utilise waste energy, supporting global efforts in energy efficiency and sustainability.
Teaching
UEL’s BSc (Hons) Environmental Psychology equips students with specialised knowledge and skills to understand how the environment influences human behaviour. Alongside focusing on foundational psychology topics, the programme includes modules on psychological approaches to environmental sustainability. These modules focus on how environmental psychology can address practical challenges in sustainability and environmental behaviour, exploring how psychological approaches help us understand individual and group interactions with natural resources. The module further applies environmental psychology to understanding how practices that respond to environmental problems can be developed, preparing graduates with skills and knowledge to enter sustainability-focused fields.
Operations
In December 2023, UEL launched the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability (RDCS), a collaborative space designed to foster innovation among students, businesses, and residents of the Royal Docks area in support of a more sustainable future. Spanning three floors, the Centre is structured to drive innovation, support business and enterprise, and connect with the community and industry to create sustainable impact and growth. Key facilities at the RDCS include the Sustainability Research Institute, a renewable Energy Lab, and a Living Lab that showcases green data from across the University. RDCS will play a central role in implementing the London Borough of Newham’s Just Transition Plan, equipping residents with skills and opportunities to drive essential solutions for adapting to climate change and advancing a green economy.
Outreach
In 2023, Richard Lindsay from UEL’s Sustainability Research Institute, in collaboration with the IUCN Peatland Programme, developed a new Virtual Peatland Pavilion for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. Peatlands are terrestrial wetland ecosystems which, though covering only 2.84 per cent of Earth’s land surface, store more carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem. Increasingly recognised by researchers, peatlands play a vital role in water management and biodiversity. The COP28 Virtual Peatlands Pavilion offers a 3D window into these critical ecosystems, enabling global users to explore their significance in mitigating climate change. Touring through the pavilion, visitors can access videos on paludiculture and peatland restoration, policy documents, sustainable finance reports and technical compendiums. The pavilion also showcases creative works inspired by peatlands, including music, artwork and audiovisual explorations.