June 13th, 2022
The university has committed to science-based carbon reduction targets for our UK operations and has released the 2030 Carbon Management Plan, detailing how we will get there.
2030 – 63% reduction in emissions (science-based target)
2040 – Net zero carbon target (with offsetting)
2050 – Absolute zero carbon target (without offsetting)
To meet our 2030 target we need to reduce CO2 emissions by 26,848 tonnes.
These targets are in line with the Paris agreement to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees C by 2050. They encompass our emissions that come from our use of gas/fuel and electricity.
These emissions are in our direct control and therefore, in theory, easiest to tackle.
The Carbon Management Plan also establishes the following commitments by the university:
Read more on our sustainability webpages.
The university is doing a lot to reduce emissions, but everyone at the university has a part to play to help to meet our ambition. It will be impossible for us to meet our net zero and other carbon targets without the support and efforts of the entire university community. Individual actions combine to have real collective impact.
The university’s energy bill is set to rise to £17million this year alone. Energy saving measures are needed now more than ever to reduce carbon emissions but also to enable us to save money so that more is available to be spent on our research and other activities.
Around 75% of the university’s electricity use is directly influenced by individual’s actions. If all lights on our UK campuses were left on overnight, it would create around 15 tonnes of CO2 in a single evening.
That’s enough electricity to power the average house for over 20 years.
Play your part and get involved by:
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