The University context
We have made public commitments to reduce our carbon emissions:
- In October 2017, we signed the Sustainable Development Goals Accord, which committed us to combating poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and promoting peace and justice.
- In May 2019, in response to a call from the Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges, we made a formal declaration of a climate emergency and committed to achieving carbon neutrality. Given our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals we will continue to deliver reductions in carbon emissions from each of the sources highlighted in Figure 1 (see next page).
- Our next publicly stated target is a 20% reduction in emissions to 55,500 tCO2 e by 2020/2021.
- A consultation with the University community to set the University on a course to net zero emissions showed that staff and students clearly expect UofG to play a leading role in tackling climate change. They supported action on a range of measures, including reducing emissions associate.
Pre-COVID we were on course to miss our target because gains that had already been made from the decarbonisation of the national grid were being substantially eroded by our increase in flying.
COVID-19 has reduced our travel massively and increased our use of digital communications. With this experience, we need to renew our commitment to avoid a rush back to unsustainable practices.
The guidance does not imply that we should not do international research, learning and teaching. Rather, it means we should do them in more sustainable ways.