By Alana Wheat, Sustainability Engagement Officer, Keele University. This article first appeared as a Personally Speaking column in the Stoke Sentinel in March 2024.

This Saturday will mark the end of the Keele Green Festival 2024 – the University’s annual festival celebrating sustainability. Originally starting off as a week-long event more than 10 years ago, the festival has grown and is now spread across an entire month – and features various events where people can learn about issues including energy and climate change, carbon, the environment, global equality, economic stability and many others.

With barely a week going by when climate change and environmental issues are not in the news, the festival has become a valuable platform for raising awareness about issues and empowering individuals to become active participants in creating a sustainable future. This year, following interest from students, the theme for the festival was 'action and activism', with the aim of breaking down the assumptions of what it is to be an 'activist'. Activism is one of our most powerful tools to change the world for the better. It can draw attention to an issue but does not have to be disruptive to do so.

We all hold various roles in society, and these have influence, either individually or collectively as a group. This can be anything, and everyone has a role to play in sustainability, from driving less often, to reducing your plastic consumption and recycling and composting more often. We can all focus on the areas we have influence on. By taking an active role to help society and the environment, that is being 'active'.

The festival has gathered together people, groups, organisations and businesses from Staffordshire and really highlighted how much fantastic work is taking place locally to make a difference. Examples include spotlighting a project by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to help connect urban areas with nature across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, and maintenance of the wildflower wood-meadow next to Keele Observatory led by local company Mondrem CIC and Keele Wildlife Society. The festival also coincided with wider campaigns such as University Mental Health Day which highlighted where individuals can go for support with their mental health, and from our sustainability perspective, also link to green prescribing and how getting out into nature can help with wellbeing and sense of belonging.

The Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent Celebration of the Possible took place at Staffordshire University, a free conference aimed at igniting positive change for sustainability across the region. All delegates of the event were invited to pledge what action they will complete to support sustainability in the area.

The festival is a great way to bring people together, but sustainability shouldn't just be the focus of a few weeks, it goes far beyond that. As a university that has embedded sustainability in everything that it does, it is crucial that Keele continues to develop engaging ways to share complex information and connect lived experiences with research to support local impact. Collective action is key to solving problems so we need to support each other and stay motivated as a community. Throughout the year, Keele's campus is open to the public to explore and visit the local green space, and there are many opportunities for lifelong learning including talks, cultural events, and workshops that the public are welcome to participate in.

And if you missed the festival this year, there are still events coming up locally where you can get involved. Earth Stories Film Festival is taking place on Monday 22nd April at the Mitchell Arts Centre where the awards will be revealed from this year's entries, starting from 6:30pm, and the Earth Stories committee invite you to come along, bring a friend and book on to the event online. All the family are also welcome to visit Keele Observatory and Sustainability Hub on the 20th and 21st April to celebrate Earth Day - it'll be packed with tours, films, arts and creative activities, and much more thanks to Appetite Stoke and Arts Keele. Together, we can all make a difference.