"We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about that... The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us."   

Throughout his career and across many nature documentaries, Sir David Attenborough has drawn attention to urgent environmental challenges, helped millions appreciate the beauty of the natural world, and warned of what lies ahead if humanity continues its current path.  

This month, our newsletter focuses on climate change. Much of our Responsibility Centre’s work lies in campus operations, where we can shape how utilities are used and how the environment is cared for. Through this edition, we want to encourage greater awareness of what it means to build a sustainable institution. That includes using water wisely, protecting biodiversity, reducing our carbon footprint, building resilient systems, and minimising waste. 

Sir David has reminded us that the actions we take over the next fifty years will shape the future of all life on Earth. As a university committed to advancing knowledge for the benefit of future generations, our footprint should reflect that responsibility. 

As we move through our days on campus, it is worth remembering that sustainability is shaped not only by major projects or policies, but also by the small choices we make every day. It is built over time, through the steady discipline of daily care and habit. 

Saving water and electricity, reducing waste, reporting leaks, printing less, recycling more, and using resources responsibly all help to create a healthier, more sustainable campus. Beyond our campus, our responsibility to take action continues. Pick up litter when you see it, leave natural spaces cleaner than you found them, support indigenous gardens, and join efforts to protect and restore our environment. When many people commit to small actions, what begins as a single drop in one person’s hand can, when joined by many, become a river of change.  

Why it matters 

Stewardship means caring responsibly for what has been entrusted to us. A culture of care begins with individual responsibility, and every action - no matter how small - helps shape the university and society we leave to future generations. 

As Operations and Finance prepares to transition into two separate units, we should approach this change with the same sense of stewardship we ask of one another in caring for our environment: with care, responsibility, and an eye to the future. This is an opportunity to reflect on what we have built together, to reconsider how we collaborate, and to carry forward the relationships, trust, and shared purpose that have shaped our work over many years. Though we may no longer serve within a single Responsibility Centre from 1 June, I hope we will continue to support one another and remain mindful of the institution’s greater good. Most importantly, the way we move through this transition will help lay the foundations on which those who come after us will build. 

Thank you to every colleague whose daily choices, however small they may seem, help to care for our planet. Those actions matter, and they help shape the kind of institution we are becoming. 

Thank you, too, to the staff who recently helped plant the new indigenous garden at Minerva Residence, to colleagues adapting thoughtfully to new ways of work, and to all who continue to build a culture of care, responsibility, and sustainability at Stellenbosch University. In ways both seen and unseen, your contributions are helping to lay foundations for the future. 

May the choices we make today help to shape a more sustainable future for all.