Sustainability

Our major cloud and digital infrastructure is provided through Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft, alongside services such as Google Workspace. Our cloud providers report environmental and quality management credentials, including ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certification and publish their own renewable energy and carbon reduction commitments. We are working to better understand and evidence the specific renewable energy contribution behind our own usage, rather than relying on supplier-level claims alone.

Oxford Brookes has published guidance for students and staff on the safe, ethical and effective use of generative AI, covering academic integrity, data protection and privacy, and choosing data-secure tools.

We recognise some of the risks and implications of AI use through our existing guidance, including the reliability of AI-generated content (which can be inaccurate or biased), and the privacy and data protection risks of sharing information with AI tools.

We're working to extend this to address further areas, including human accountability for AI-generated output, the legal implications of AI use, the climate impact of AI and the potential effects of AI on mental health and wellbeing. We are working to develop clearer guidance specifically addressing these areas, building on our existing student and staff resources.

Oxford Brookes has approved an AI Enabling Strategy with main objectives. More information can be found on the Our Approach to AI page.This strategy is in its early stages, we'll share more about how it's shaping Brookes' approach to sustainable AI as it develops.

Sustainability action on AI isn't only happening at an institutional level, it's also being driven by staff across the University. 

Case 1 - by Learning Resources Green Impact Team

Team members: Lisa Hill, Jo Akers, Jennifer Weston, Maureen Payne, Debbie Clarke, Romy Joseph, Saffron Shore)  

Saffron researched the energy and water demands of generative AI and developed a staff presentation, AI and the Environment, delivered as part of LR's Technology Engagement Group sessions and as the opening event of LR's activity month. The session covers why AI uses such large amounts of energy and water, the plans of government and big tech to meet rising energy demand, the AI-enabled tools already used within LR and practical actions staff can take to encourage more environmentally-friendly AI use. 

The recording and slides of 'AI and the environment' session can be found in the Technology Engagement Group page.

Case 2  - by Centre for Academic Development Green Impact Team

Team members: Kevin Watson, Stefani Goga, Tim Fawcett, Heather Callaghan and other 9 team members)

Led by Kevin, Stefani and Tim, the team created and implemented a Sustainability Policy for Cloud Usage, addressing the environmental impacts of digital storage and server use. The policy outlines best practices for data management, including minimising redundant storage. Find out more information about the Sustainability Policy for Cloud Usage.