The University will put environmental sustainability at the heart of everything that we do.
We have an excellent track record and will continue to be leaders in this area. We will use our expertise, time and energy to help our communities with their own greening agenda. We will follow a new carbon and environmental management plan that meets and exceeds the requirements of the London Plan in terms of reducing carbon emissions, enables our graduates to continue this vital work and improves the internal environment in which we teach, learn and work.
The Vice-Chancellor will chair a climate action group that will realise the following targets:
Carbon reduction
Scope 1 and 2 targets (direct carbon emissions from our on-campus activities)
- meet the corporate strategy carbon reduction target of 38.11 kg CO2/m2 by 2025
- achieve carbon net zero by 2030; our emissions will rapidly decelerate beyond 2025 as we replace our current gas-burning district heating system with new renewable energy nodes
- procure electricity from renewable sources by 2023
- produce 10% of our electricity needs by onsite generation by 2030
- decarbonise the estate as far as possible
- investigate switching to the use of green-backed gas ie biomethane for the remaining life of our gas installations
- identify and follow a 10-year project plan of infrastructure improvements such as lighting and controls upgrades, metering, improved insulation and reduced solar gain.
Scope 3 targets (indirect carbon emissions from supporting activities)
- reduce total water use by 15% by 2025
- reduce carbon emissions from University and supplier-related travel by 40% by 2026
- recycle 75% of all University waste by 2026
- reduce carbon emissions related to our purchased goods and services by 20% by 2026
Environmental management targets
- reduce the University’s environmental impact through educating and empowering students and staff via engagement in sustainability practices
- protect and enhance biodiversity on our campuses
- improve air quality across the University
- improve the sustainability of the University’s hospitality services, to minimise the impact of the catering operations on the environment and to promote sustainable practices.
- enable graduates to learn about sustainable development issues so they can be confident and knowledgeable
- provide all students and staff with the opportunity to participate in sustainability-related extra-curricular and community engagement activities
- subscribe to an environmental performance league such as the highly credible Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, which measures many different facets including carbon reduction, environmental performance, research impact and positive community impact.
