Oxford Green Action Week runs from 23-27 February this year. We have put together the following top five eco-friendly tips for library readers:

Experiment with plant-based eating

Food accounts for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions with beef, lamb and dairy having the highest carbon footprint. Why not try a vegetarian or vegan lunch from the Glasshouse Café on the first floor of the Manor Road Building? (But please don’t bring any food into the library!)

Recycle right

Avoid wishcycling – check the notices above our waste and recycling bins to see what we can and can’t recycle. Coffee cups, tissues and sweet wrappers belong in the General Waste bin. If in doubt put things in the General Waste bin to avoid contaminating the recycling –  this can lead to the whole load going to incineration.

Remember your reusable bottle and cup

Globally we go through 1.2 million single-use plastic bottles a minute.  Commit to packing your reusable bottle in your bag every day. You can fill your bottle from the water dispenser in the Locker Room. Get a 30p discount on hot drinks if you use your refillable cup in the Glasshouse Café.

Turn off your tech

Did you know that standby power generates 1% of the world’s carbon emissions? Help reduce this by turning off your tech when you’re not using it.

Read up

Take a look at our display of books on climate change, nature and sustainability for more ideas and inspiration. You’ll find the display just around the corner from the issue desk.

Find out more

Check our Sustainability webpage to find out what actions we are taking to green the SSL and how you can help.

To celebrate Oxford University’s Green Action Week from 10 – 14 February 2025 we have put together a display of books covering climate change and actions for a greener lifestyle. You can find the book display around the corner from the Issue Desk. The display is accessible during library opening hours and the library address is here. Anyone with a University Card or Bodleian Libraries Reader card can access the library.

Discover more books on climate change by searching SOLO, the library catalogue, or browsing the Social Science Library shelves at GE149, QC981.8, QC903.

Green Action Week aims to foster environmental improvements in all parts of the University through networking and exchanging ideas. This year, special emphasis is being placed on the ‘actions’ that can drive better practices and behaviour change to help lead to tangible results.  See the full programme of events and activities here.

If you can’t make it to the library the books on display are listed below:

Climate Change books

• Hawken, Paul, ed. Drawdown : The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. London: Penguin Books, 2018.
• Flannery, Tim F. (Tim Fridtjof). Atmosphere of Hope : Solutions to the Climate Crisis. London: Penguin Books, 2015.
• Yergin, Daniel. The New Map : Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations. London: Penguin Books, 2021.
• Ghosh, Amitav. The Great Derangement : Climate Change and the Unthinkable. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2017.
• Robinson, Mary, and Caitríona Palmer. Climate Justice : A Man-Made Problem with a Feminist Solution. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.
• Shue, Henry. Climate Justice : Vulnerability and Protection. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
• Abadi, Cameron. Climate Radicals : Why Our Environmental Politics Isn’t Working. New York: Columbia Global Reports, 2024.
• Dawson, Ashley. Environmentalism from below : How Global People’s Movements Are Leading the Fight for Our Planet. Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2024.
• Romm, Joseph J. Climate Change : What Everyone Needs to Know. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
• Kolbert, Elizabeth. H Is for Hope : Climate Change from A to Z. London: Oneworld, 2024.
• Dessler, Andrew Emory. Introduction to Modern Climate Change. Third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021.
• Thunberg, Greta. The Climate Book. New York: Penguin Press, 2024.

Tips for greener living

• Wilson-Powell, Georgina. 365 Ways to Save the Planet : A Day-by-Day Guide to Sustainable Living. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2023.
• Garcia, Eduardo. Things You Can Do : How to Fight Climate Change and Reduce Waste. London: Pop Press, 2022.
• Moore, Sadhbh, and Abi Aspen Glencross. Sustainable Kitchen : Projects, Tips and Advice to Shop, Cook and Eat in a More Eco-Conscious Way. London: White Lion Publishing, 2022.
• Karnikowski, Nina. Go Lightly : How to Travel without Hurting the Planet. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2021.
• Edwards, Zoe. Mend It, Wear It, Love It : Stitch Your Way to a Sustainable Wardrobe. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2021. 
• Chillingsworth, Jen. Live Green : 52 Steps for a More Sustainable Life. London: Quadrille Publishing, 2019.
• Rhoads, Erin. Waste Not Everyday. Ed. by Susan Keogh. Richmond, Victoria: Hardie Grant Books, 2019.
• Kaye, Alexa. Eco Thrifty : Discover the Secrets to Stylish and Sustainable Living without It Costing the Earth. London: Summersdale Publishers Ltd, 2020.