With 91% of UK students believing their place of study should actively incorporate and promote sustainable development, universities have found themselves at the forefront of the net zero campaign with many setting themselves ambitious decarbonisation targets.
The aim of many institutions to reach Net Zero up to 20-years ahead of wider UK targets may seem unrealistic given the challenges currently being faced due to Covid-19 and other economic realities.
However, as our energy system becomes more decentralised, the University sector is well placed to lead the way in achieving Net Zero emissions.
How can universities enact Strategic Energy Planning?
Wider measurement and reporting
Historically, carbon targets set by Universities, as defined by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, covered direct emissions from activities owned or controlled by the institution (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from electricity consumed (Scope 2). In order to report the full carbon footprint, indirect emissions associated with University activities that occur upstream and downstream (e.g. waste, water, business travel) should also be considered (Scope 3). Several institutions are also actively looking to develop reporting for wider Scope 3 emissions such as staff/student commuting, procurement of capital goods and ICT.
Climate Emergency Framework
A University can help to develop their Net Zero approach in a number of ways, including various actions suggested under the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) ‘Climate Emergency Framework’:
- Leadership and Governance: The framework details how as part of leadership and governance, Universities should commit to their own carbon neutral date. They should also commit to reporting on Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) and sign the SDG Accord.
- Teaching, Learning and Research: The Climate Emergency Framework focusses on teaching learning and research as well, with the advice for Universities being that they should offer carbon literacy courses for staff and students, whilst also embeddingSDG’s within the curriculum.
- Estates and Operations: Further actions that are suggested in the framework include developing clear metrics and reporting around Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions, considering options to retrofit existing estate (for example, energy efficiency measures) and developing an adaptation plan.
- Partnerships and Engagement: It is also essential to engage with staff and students internally, whilst working proactively with the local Authorities/neighbouring private sector sites and consider the best practise from further afield, including internationally.
A robust route map
Organisations such as Universities need a robust yet innovative energy route map, to understand how they will work towards Net Zero in the short, medium and long term. By developing a Strategic Energy Plan through a strong engineering led approach, institutions have time to lay the foundations of decarbonising their estate.
The Strategic Energy Plan should be considered an enabler; it allows short term decisions to be made within the wider framework of an overall Net Zero transition and helps ensure these decisions are ‘low regrets’.
Padd Energy works with public and private sector organisations, including universities. supporting their decarbonisation journey and making net zero a reality. We have offices in London, Glasgow and Harrogate. To find out more contact info@paddenergy.com
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