Sustainable AYY
An environmentally sustainable and just student union establishes the framework for the best student life in the world, both now and in the future.
Lawns into meadows – a research project for increasing biodiversity in Otaniemi
AYY is involved in a research project that investigates solutions to biodiversity loss and seeks new ways to implement ecological compensation.
AYY is involved in a research project that investigates small-scale solutions to biodiversity loss and seeks new ways to implement ecological compensation through citizen actions. As a part of the Katoava luonto (eng. Fading nature) research project, AYY’s four 40-70 m2 lawn areas in Otaniemi will be converted from lawns to flower meadows in 2020-2023. During these three years, the Universities of Helsinki and Jyväskylä and the Finnish Meteorological Institute will carry out greenhouse gas measurements and study the species of each study site.
The goal of the transformation is to increase the number of plant species and thus also the number of pollinators in the research sites. Globally their numbers have threateningly decreased: more and more plant pollinator species are on the verge of extinction. This has serious consequences on food production, as more than three-quarters of the world’s most important food crops are at least partially dependent on animal pollination. Species that depend on pollinators include berries, fruits and many vegetables. Securing the habitats of pollinators can contribute to the success of pollinator species, while also creating more diverse environments for the residents.
The aim of the Katoava luonto research project, led by the University of Jyväskylä, is to find solutions to biodiversity loss and look for new and participatory ways of doing ecological compensation. The goal of the project is to increase knowledge about ecological compensation, which means compensating for the loss of natural habitats through restoring or creating new habitats elsewhere. Protecting biodiversity and our natural habitats is a key factor for our well-being: biodiversity and ecosystem services provide us with food and medicine, mitigate climate change and protect life from natural disasters and habitat changes.
You can get involved in the project e.g. by participating in the Lawns into Meadows workshops this fall (26.-27.9.) or by following the project’s website and social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
More information
Beñat Olascoaga
Researcher, Natural resources & environment (Katoava Luonto research project)
Read more about AYY's sustainability work
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Ecological sustainability policy has been updated – AYY transitions to a plant-based policy
Aalto University Student Union (AYY) has updated its ecological sustainability policy, which supports AYY’s daily operations. The new document directs AYY to serve plant-based food and drinks at its events. In the future, food waste will be minimised, and 30 percent of air and ship travel costs will be offset towards environmental activities.
AYY is taking steps to improve equity in its operations – new equity plan approved by RepCo
Aalto University Student Union has an equity plan, first in AYY’s history, that was approved in the Representative Council meeting on 21.11.2024. Equity plan will guide AYY towards more accessible and inclusive ways for our students to participate in AYY’s events and operations.
Good news for residents in shared apartments: Here’s how you can receive your own housing allowance while living in a friends’ apartment!
A joint liability rental agreement may affect the housing allowance, as Kela typically grants only one housing allowance for a shared household, which is influenced by the income of both residents. However, residents in friends’ apartments may receive separate housing allowances if Kela reviews them as separate households. This requires tenants with a joint liability rental agreement to draft a mutual possession agreement for the apartment and submit it as an appendix with their housing allowance application to Kela. Tenants draft the possession agreement by themselves.