FEE joins Global Alliance of higher education sustainability networks in Open Letter to Cop 21 Ministers

The collective voice of the world’s universities, colleges and students will be heard at COP21 when the United Nations Climate Change Conference takes place in Paris, France during the first week of December.

A global alliance of tertiary and higher education sustainability networks today jointly issued an Open Letter urging Ministers and Governments to acknowledge and strengthen the research and education role that universities and colleges play in addressing climate change. With networks on every continent pledging signatures, the global alliance already represents more than 3000 universities and colleges worldwide.

The Open Letter celebrates and confirms the critical role universities and colleges play in finding and implementing solutions towards climate change mitigation and adaptation and places it in the context of addressing wider issues of sustainability, including social and economic policies and practices.

Addressed to COP21 Ministers and Governments the letter also calls for more specific measures to be taken such as showcasing universities and colleges as living laboratories for climate change adaptation and mitigation, increasing support for trans-disciplinary learning, teaching and research approaches, and using university and college campuses and operations as a leverage agent to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources.

The Open Letter from the global alliance will be handed to COP21 General Secretary Pierre Henri Guignard on 14 October at the UNESCO Headquarters during the Higher Education for Climate Change Action Event. The event is hosted by The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative- HESI which was created by a consortium of UN entities UNESCO, UN-DESA, UNEP, Global Compact and UNU.

If you represent a university or college sustainability related network and wish to become a signatory to the Open Letter, please email john.north@grli.org or ipatton@eauc.org.uk before 9 October.

We hope you will join us in the effort and look forward to your response. You can view the letter here.

Blue Flag's 30th anniversary in France

Born from a French idea in 1985, Blue Flag turned 30 this year in its mother country!

It is with great pride that our French municipalities came to this special anniversary event,  to receive their flag and to exchange ideas amongst each other.

The municipality of St Nazaire, receiving Blue Flag for the first time, was hosting the event which included a discussion panel with experts and partners of Blue Flag France: Eco Maires, Fédération Francaise des Ports de Plaisance, Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux PACA, Villes de France, Eco-emballages. Jan Eriksen, FEE President, as well as Sophie Bachet Granados, Blue Flag Internationa Director, were also part of this discussion panel.

"I was there when the Blue Flag was created, and I am very glad I could be here today, to this special 30th anniversary of Blue Flag in France. To have witnessed the birth of this international programme and the development  throughout these past thirty years is one of the many reasons I believe that the Foundation for Environmental Education brings a real change to our world." says Jan Eriksen, whilst addressing the assembly.

"Today I am proud of what France has achieved in the past 30 years, and the tremendous work the French Blue Flag team has done to get there. It is important we know our past, so that our roots are deep in the ground, feeding on our huge experience. This enables our head to reach high in the sky, above and beyond what we know and imagine. Blue Flag has 30 years of experience, and thanks to all those working with us, Blue Flag has a bright future ahead, with many more exciting challenges." adds Sophie.

First establishment in Sint Maarten awarded with the Green Key eco-label

Through the Green Key certification scheme, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel has worked on streamlining its procedures towards obtaining a high level of environmental standards without compromising the quality of the establishment. At a ceremony on 2 February 2015 the Green Key award was celebrated at the hotel with representatives from the national authorities, the hospitality sector, NGOs and the press from Sint Maarten attending the event.

Emil Lee, General Manager of Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel expressed his satisfaction with the achievement, and highlighted that the work could not have been completed without the environmental manager, Marlyn Wessels, leading the work and the involvement of all staff at the hotel. 

"The steps we have taken to change from single dose shampoo bottles to dispensers in the bathrooms, implementation of an integrated pest management programme, installation of energy efficient lighting and modifying other procedures to become more efficient with electricty and water have not only resulted in reduced impacts to the environment, but have also helped us to reduce our operational expenses. Any truly sustainable projects must be financially sustainable as well. We are delighted with our win/win partnership with FEE and EPIC", says Emil Lee.

Rueben Thompson, programme manager from the organisation EPIC (Environmental Protection in the Caribbean) in charge of the Green Key and Blue Flag programmes in Sint Maarten, complimented the hotel with the achievement and expressed his hope that Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel would serve as the role model for other establishments in Sint Maarten also interested in implementing the Green Key programme.

Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director, attended the event and welcomed Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel to the Green Key family of more than 2,300 awarded sites in now 47 countries. He was very happy to observe the excellent work with environmental management and awareness raising of staff and guests at the hotel. He expressed his expectation that the first Green Key award in Sint Maarten as well as the recent signing of a cooperation agreement with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association would lead to a continued increase in the presence of Green Key in the Caribbean region.

Green Key Netherlands celebrates awarded sites

The President of KMVK (Stichting voor Keurmerk, Milieu, Veiligheid en Kwaliteit), Derk Jan Verstand, welcomed the 200 participants to this yearly event and thanked everyone for the efforts they make every day to create a more sustainable business, even in these economical difficult times. He emphasized the work that is being done on communication and the website within Green Key Netherlands and the revision of the criteria in 2015. He also proudly announced that the first corporate restaurant was certified last week and talked about the great potential in this area. He finished with the number of Green Key awarded hotels which has reached up to 603.

George Stander, the proud manager of Conference Centre Bovendonk talked about the history of the building which used to be a monastery and seminary to train new priests. The Conference centre has recently earned their first bronze award and they are very motivated to earn the golden award in the near future.

Finn Bolding Thomson, the international Green Key director, thanked all the Green Key sites owners for their hard work and gave an update on the new international development on an international level through a video message.

Erik Van Dijk, Green Key national operator in the Netherlands, informed the site owners about the tool on the national website to calculate and immediately compare the ecological footprint of their enterprise with those of other Green Key holders. Further on he also went through the calendar of sharing and learning events for the next year.

In the afternoon the participants could sign up for two workshops concerning different related subjects such as waste management, Green Key criteria, tourism in future, etc. All through the day, the break time moments were open to share ideas and knowledge on an info market where different businesses and organisations presented their products or projects. An ecological quiz was held between different session to test the knowledge of the site owners and to lighting up the mood.   

As icing on the cake, Maurits Groen, Sustainable entrepreneur, gave a fantastic lecture about the Waka-Waka project. Afterwards he handed over the official Green Key certificate 2015 to all the awarded sites owners present.  

Green Key icon Erik Van Dijk featured as Sustainable Leader

As part of a cooperation between Green Key and Sustainable-Leaders, one Green Key ambassador will be featured on Sustainable-Leaders.com each month. Sustainability Leaders connects sustainable tourism thinkers, shakers and doers. It offers sustainability insights, case studies and examples of environmental leadership and best practice in travel and tourism. First Green ambassador to be represented is Erik Van Dijk, Green Key national operator in the Netherlands. 

A few quotes from the interview with Erik Van Dijk

Why is sustainability in tourism so important?

“Sustainable development is very important for public spaces, but also for the sustainability of accommodation providers, for instance. As developer of tourism destinations, I know about the challenge to serve private and public sector interests, both of which constitute a destination. Apart from sustainability, public places within destinations – such as coastal areas with their parks, dunes, etc – must also fulfill quality criteria, such as parking space and accessibility.”

Which achievement(s) at Green Key are you most proud of?

“The fact that we have been able to help change the tourism supply chain by connecting our Green Key certified accommodations with suppliers of sustainable goods and services. That we can support entrepreneurs and small business owners and managers, thanks to our intermediary function in The Netherlands. And of course I’m very proud that we increased the number of Green Key certified accommodations: When I started in 2008 as national operator, we had 165 affiliated hotels. Now we are aiming for 600 certified hotels in 2016!”

Why should tourism professionals choose Green Key?

“Because it is a program by an independent NGO which collaborates with institutions such as WHO and UNEP. We don’t have commercial goals and Green Key is absolutely independent. And I think that our USP [unique selling proposition] is that we try to build a lasting, personal, and supportive relationship with the managers of certified accommodations and companies providing the right products and services.”

You can read the full article here

Le Meridien N’FIS in Morocco – A Green Key Hotel with a mission

To celebrate the partnership between Green Key and Starwood, Green Key International will publish a monthly feature of a Green Key awarded Starwood hotel. In March we showcase Le Meridien N’FIS in Morocco, a hotel that sets high environmental standards and innovates to reduce their ecological footprint. 

Le Meridien N’FIS has obtained the international green key label “cle verte internationale” for 3 consecutive years since 2012, delivered by the “Fondation Mohammed VI pour la Protection de l’Environnement”. Only a few hotels have obtained this prestigious label in Marrakech.

Ideally located in 5,5 ha of luxurious gardens facing the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas mountains, close to main city attractions and four of the most famous golf courses in Marrakech, Le Meridien N’Fis offers 277 rooms including 12 suites comfortably featured with all conveniences you expect in a deluxe hotel.

At your disposal, an overflowing swimming pool of 650 m2, a clay tennis court, a fitness center & spa, 2 bars, 3 restaurants with various culinary delights & entertainment, and finally a conference area including 4 meeting rooms with a capacity from 20 to 150 people, duly equipped to accommodate all your needs.

Being a Brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Le Meridien N'fis as well as all Starwood hotels in the world, has been involved for several years in the group’s environmental policy and has implemented many green initiatives respecting both national and international standards. The hotel maintains an innovative strategy for Citizen Responsibility and Sustainable Development, the program includes several environmental aspects: energy and water savings, minimizing waste, recycling, awareness and engagement, etc ...

The goal is to do more to consume less. Reducing water consumption by 30% and electricity by 20% by 2020.