More than 1,000 students took part in over thirty events during Green Week, an initiative co-ordinated by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) to raise awareness on climate change and “effect real changes in people’s lives for the future of our planet.”

Mark Ballard, University of Edinburgh rector and co-convener of the Scottish Green Party, officially opened the series of events on Monday 6 October. The Energy and Sustainability Office and EUSA showcased their initiatives to cut emissions and improve energy efficiency on campus.

Other events promoted recycling, sustainable travel, and effective carbon management in an "every little helps" approach.

A EUSA spokesperson said: “In recent years, our university community has helped show Scotland and the world how we can safeguard our future. Green week helps us come together as a community to build this momentum."

Earlier this year EUSA won a gold medal at the Sound Impact Awards, designed to encourage and reward improved environmental practice amongst students’ unions.

The judges said: “There is significant evidence that making choices which will result in the least negative impact on people and the environment is at the crux of their decision-making process.”

Green Week also staged forums and debates on political issues such as the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. A question time session gave students the chance to grill MPs and MSPs from across political lines as well as representatives from NGOs and the energy industry.

The Scottish government has said that students responded strongly during the consultation phase of the Climate Change bill which will come before parliament by the end of the year.

The main clause of the bill aims to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and to have 50 per cent of Scotland’s demand for electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020.

Westminster recently challenged Alex Salmond’s bid to lead the way in fighting climate change. Recommendations put forward in last week's Committee on Climate Change matched Scotland’s proposed 80 per cent reduction on emissions by 2050.

Furthermore, the recommendations included all greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide, as well as emissions from international aviation and shipping. Holyrood has not yet clarified what emissions are to be included in its legislation.

Dr Dave Raey, lecturer in carbon management at the University of Edinburgh’s world-renowned environmental research centre, told The Journal that waiting for governments and businesses to take action on global warming isn’t enough.

He said: “We are the voters and consumers, we are the ones who ultimately decide whether our politicians should be doing more.

"Initiatives like Green Week play a vital part in raising awareness and engendering actions on an individual scale that can then ripple right through our economy and society.”