The environmental changemaker

Raise your voice on global issues and use that voice to campaign for change – at Sussex, you'll be encouraged to help create a better, more sustainable world. Meet Fred Henderson, who along with two friends, lobbied for the University to set a default web browser, which uses its profits to tackle deforestation.

Fred’s story

"Ecosia is a search engine that uses its profits to tackle deforestation around the globe. For every 40 searches Ecosia plants a tree. Imagine how many trees we could plant if every student on campus used Ecosia. My friends, Amber and Erin, and I felt that this was something we needed to make happen.

"We pitched the idea to the IT department and they loved it, but wanted us to show that there was enough support. So, we ran a Facebook campaign and attended the Freshers Fair to raise awareness. We also pitched the idea to the Vice-Chancellor. Once we’d got the OK from the top, and gathered enough names, things moved quickly.

Sussex is a consciously green university. It’s given me plenty of opportunities to make myself heard, and I’ve jumped at every one of them.” Fred Henderson
Ecosia on Campus campaigner

"Ecosia is now the default browser for every student account at Sussex. In the first month we’d enabled the planting of over 3,000 trees. The impact Sussex is having on the environment with such a simple change is fantastic. And now Ecosia on Campus has turned into an international movement. We’re working with over 30 unis worldwide, helping them to set up their own campaigns.

"Everyone should campaign for what they believe in, because it’s likely that there are others that want the same change. Sussex is a consciously green University. It’s given me plenty of opportunities to make myself heard, and I’ve jumped at every one of them."

Find out more about Ecosia.

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