Goldsmiths College announced on Monday that it will become the first beef-free campus in Britain at the start of its autumn term. It will also introduce a 10 pence levy on plastic water bottles and single-use plastic cups.

Known for its eco-friendly initiatives, the university's other measures include plans to install more solar panels, switch to a 100 percent clean energy supplier as soon as possible and to invest more in its green allotments (where planting could help to absorb carbon dioxide)

Scientists say that in terms of meat, beef is most damaging to the environment, as cows produce more methane and require more land and water than other livestock.

According to the BBC, the college's new head, Professor Frances Corner, said on Monday that "the growing global call for organizations to take seriously their responsibilities for halting climate change is impossible to ignore."

She continued, "Though I have only just arrived at Goldsmiths, it is immediately obvious that our staff and students care passionately about the future of our environment and that they are determined to help deliver the step change we need to cut our carbon footprint drastically and as quickly as possible."

The banning of beef, however, will probably be the most controversial move. The news of the announcement began to spread quickly on social media on Tuesday.

Jason Hickel, a senior lecturer in anthropology at Goldsmiths, urged other universities to follow suit. "There's no reason you can't win similar changes at your own institution, be it a university, school, hospital, church, company or whatever," he posted on Twitter on Tuesday. "People are ready to mobilise around rapid change. Now is the time."