Sustainability [for students & staff]

The University is a major employer and trip generator for its students and visitors. The main campus benefits from an urban location with good public transport links. There are also good active travel links. This is reflected in the 2024 travel survey data which shows an above Scottish average use of public transport and active travel for our staff and students to come to University.

• 2024 Travel Survey
• Comparison - Commuting travel modes for Scotland, 2024

The 2024 survey data has been used as the baseline for this Strategic Travel Plan re-iteration.

• The  survey results were used to calculate the estimated annual commuting emissions, for staff and students, as 10,022 tCO2e.
• 19% of the University population travelled by car as their main mode for commuting 
• Annual car kilometres are estimated at 29.5M. Omitting the period affected by Covid restrictions, there has been a 13% reduction in annual car kilometres for travel to the University, since 2018/2019 results.

Related Policies and Projects

The actions within the STTP have been informed by the existing situation at the University of Glasgow, as well as by University, local and national policy.

• The University’s Glasgow Green Strategy states that they will set carbon reduction targets across the University and support a transition to sustainable modes of travel. www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/sustainability/glasgowgreen/

• The Carbon Management Plan highlights the University’s commitment to net zero GHG emissions by 2030, echoed in the councils Glasgow Green Deal. www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/sustainability/carbonmanagementplan

The University is a partner of the Climate Ready Clyde initiative, influencing decision making at a city-level. The University created their Climate Change Adaptation plan, in response to their involvement with the initiative, outlining city level and institutional level risks that climate change poses. They initiative is working on projects to:

• Support climate action within Glasgow.

• Increase vegetation to create heat resilient neighbourhoods.

• Move towards a climate resilient and carbon neutral city through the formation of an innovation district. https://climatereadyclyde.org.uk/

The University will benefit from proposed active travel routes outlined in the Glasgow City Network plans, specifically:

• Glasgow Avenues, including Argyle Street.

• Kelvin Way active travel route improvements. https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/media/5895/City-Network-Delivery-Plan/pdf/City_Network_Delivery_Plan_FINAL_03082023_1_Accessible_version.pdf?m=1691592256177

As part of the City Deal, a vibrant west end quarter will be created, benefiting access to the University, specifically:

• Byres Road development.

• Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove project. https://glasgowcityregion.co.uk/city-deal/

Using the STTP Dashboard [to be finalised as part of Power BI development]

Section 2 of the STTP Dashboard sets out:

• the STTP target to reduce car vehicle kilometres noting the relation with changes in modal split and the impact on carbon emissions.

• the STTP actions proposed to meet the specified targets, which are categorised under key themes, such as active travel or public transport.

• the tools and datasets proposed for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Section 3 of the STTP Dashboard provides an interactive analysis of the relationship between proposed actions and modal shift showing the predicted impact on achieving the vehicle kilometre reduction target and how this influences the University’s transport related carbon footprint.

Applying user-specified options, actions can be selected to assess impacts. The outcomes tables show the estimated change in mode share, vehicle kilometres, and carbon reductions/increases. This dashboard provides a user-friendly method of tracking the University’s progress towards achieving the STTP targets and a reduction in the University’s transport related carbon emissions.