How does Green Your Scene work?
- Register your team
- Start on either the Introduction Mini or the Kōwhai Project Mini
- Submit your Mini every two months and choose another to work on
- Touch base with experts and access resources on the Mahi Tahi teams' channel (your team lead has been added to this)
- Track your mahi on the Mahi Tracker spreadsheet and submit this by 4 October
- Celebrate your collective impact!
What can I expect?
This year, Green Your Scene looks a little different.
You can now choose which themes of the programme you use to activate your team with 14 different “Minis” throughout 2022.
The Introduction Mini is where you start and every second month more Mini options will be available to your team. As you take action throughout the year, you can keep track of your efforts by ticking off the actions completed on your Mahi Tracker.
How does this fit in with other sustainable changes I am making?
Green Your Scene is the perfect way to tie together all the change you're already creating and record your collective impact. You will also have the opportunity to connect with experts and share your knowledge and passion. If you're doing something bigger or more structured, Green Your Scene provides the perfect way to share your success, your learnings and help spark interest in sustainability.
Green Your Scene can break staff and students out of silos, get people talking, and engage more and more people, to spark change within our whole University.
How big can my team be?
Teams need to be two people or more. Teams should cover a physical location – a floor, department, building or college etc.
One area or building can have multiple teams – split by office/unit/floor/department/service etc – or a team can cover an entire department and college teams.
You can make a decision on a case-by-case basis, but we do recommend keeping team sizes manageable.
How does this relate to my work?
Promoting sustainability is just as good for you as for the environment – it makes your workspace or college more efficient, integrates people, and helps motivate staff and students.
You'll also be championing the Sustainability Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Is Green Your Scene flexible?
It is really flexible, so you can take action on whatever interests you most or seems most suitable for your team. You can do this by picking Minis to complete through the year, that motivates your team most.
What does Green Your Scene cover?
Our Green Your Scene Minis go beyond the narrow confines of environmental action helping broaden your view of sustainability.
The Minis support you to drive change in everything from waste, inclusion, carbon zero, energy, wellbeing and so much more.
What would we be contributing to?
This programme recognises the collective impact of staff and students taking small steps, every day, to look after Papatūānuku and her tāngata. This mahi will enable your team to connect with a community of people who believe in the power of positive change as you collectively drive action directly connected to our Sustainable Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Does it take much time?
It's completely up to you.
Green Your Scene requires a fair amount of team motivation. Teams succeed in this programme when they are equally passionate and determined to complete the actions at hand.
Consider whether you and your team members are prepared for this commitment before you register your team, as the programme is designed to enable teams to get stuck into the actions largely independently.
The Sustainability Office are here to help; however, you should be prepared to dedicate time and effort to the programme in order to be successful in the award levels.
Set realistic targets about what you can achieve in a year of Green Your Scene, then spread your efforts over as much time and as many people as you like – make the programme work for you.
Do I have to complete every Mini throughout the year?
Just like you don't have to do every action, you don't have to do every mini.
Teams can choose from a range of minis– you can select the ones you want to complete to gain an award at any of our three levels. You have the flexibility to do things you enjoy, are passionate about, and have the influence to change in your space.
What support do you offer?
The Sustainability Office team can answer questions and connect you to the right people. Green Your Scene also includes support from our Tētēkura (Student Leads) including social media coverage, highlighting the work you are doing and more.
The Sustainability Office also has many more resources for teams who register for Green Your Scene, to help with engagement and encouraging the changes you want to see.
Is there a deadline for registering a team?
Green Your Scene registrations will open on Monday 8 February and close Monday 15 March 2022. Registering at the start of the year means your team has time to complete the actions across the year and take advantage of training and support available from the Sustainability Office. If you miss the registration period and would still like to get started with Green Your Scene, contact the Sustainability Office to discuss your options.
Is there a deadline for completing the Mahi Tracker?
Mahi Trackers will be due 4 October 2022.
How is our work towards Green Your Scene measured?
Complete a range of minis across the year (2x Minis for Seedling, 3x Minis for Sapling or Kowhai Project Mini for Kowhai). Teams will submit their completed Mahi Tracker by 4 October 2022 via email greenyourscene@otago.ac.nz. Once reviewed your team will get an email to confirm you have submitted for a Green Your Scene Award.
The Mahi Tracker and any evidence will be assessed by the Sustainability Office and if applicable a meeting to visit your team on site will be arranged so that any achievements that aren't immediately visible can be shown/demonstrated/discussed.
My team received a Seedling Award last year, can we start on a Sapling Award or do we need another Seedling Award first?
Green Your Scene is all about continual improvement, so every award is valid for two years only.
Your team needs to achieve a Seedling Award every second year before moving on to a Sapling Award or a Kōwhai Award. But if you have accomplished Seedling once, your team should achieve it again relatively easily and quickly. Also, if your team maintains the actions all year, you should be able to tick off multiple actions at the start of the next year.
How do the awards work?
The Green Your Scene Awards have three levels – Seedling, Sapling and Kōwhai.
Seedling level requires teams to achieve all specified criteria to demonstrate that they can follow basic good practice and raise awareness of sustainability amongst staff and students.
Sapling and kōwhai level require teams to go further, by embedding efficient processes and environmentally friendly ways of working. Departments and colleges must also promote a culture of sustainability by engaging with staff and students.
Seedling - Introduction mini and two additional mini's completed.
Sapling - Introduction mini and three additional mini's completed.
Kōwhai - Introduction mini (or previous GYS award from 2021) and Kōwhai project mini completed.