GLASGOW GREEN THE UNIVERSITY OF ’S RESPONSE TO THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY The environmental crisis remains one of the most pressing issues we face. EXECUTIVE We must all take stock of what we are doing, and SUMMARY what more might be done. Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli Principal

The the enthusiasm of our staff and students, and a recognises that the world is facing willingness to put sustainability at the top of our agenda. a climate emergency; urgent action is needed. This document Glasgow takes pride in being a world-class, world-changing University – a community of represents the University’s students and staff which, through education, response to that emergency. It research and knowledge transfer, makes a meaningful positive impact on our global commits us to a very significant society. We know that there is a carbon cost plan of action to achieve carbon implication in our aspirations to be a world- changing University. However, we cannot neutrality by 2030, with interim achieve our goals at the expense of the targets over the next decade. environment; combatting climate emergency must be an integral part of our work at every Alongside that, we want to make a measurable level. difference by raising public understanding of climate change and the challenges it This strategy is about much more than shrinking represents for humanity. We will start by our carbon footprint; it will affect every aspect engaging the energies of our staff and students of the University over the next decade and will – many of whom are already willing us to have implications that will be felt well beyond further and faster in addressing this agenda. our campuses. We seek the support of all We aim to be a beacon of good practice, members of the community in addressing the drawing on the expertise of our academics, climate emergency and making University of Glasgow a leader in this field.

1 INTRODUCTION

This document sets out a climate Engaging the University community more change strategy and action plan effectively is central to this strategy. We believe there are huge opportunities – people at all for the University of Glasgow. It levels are treating the issue of climate change follows the Principal’s declaration with a heightened sense of urgency and are willing the University to act. A second theme of a climate emergency in May relates to the University’s place in the world 2019 – a statement which was – rather than being inward looking, we want to use our influence and expertise to address reported worldwide – and which key challenges and inspire others to action. reinforced similar messages from At the same time, we need a strategy that is affordable and achievable – one which allows the UK Parliament and the Scottish the University not only to fulfil its primary Government as well as other objectives, but to make sustainability an universities around the globe. essential element in those objectives. The strategy draws on discussions at Senior Management Group, Senate and the Student The following sections outline the context in Experience Committee, consultation seminars which we are operating, review progress to with staff and students, and a wider survey. date in reducing carbon emissions and set These discussions demonstrated that all out a route to ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions by sections of the University community agree that 2030. In the final section, we identify a series of we need to go further and faster in addressing practical actions under five headings: the climate emergency; there is also a consensus that we should monitor the impact • Engaging and Empowering Our Community of our actions and make our data public in an • Promoting Efficiency open and transparent manner. • Governance and Policy • Continuous Improvement Initiatives • Building Resilience through Partnerships

2 IN CONTEXT

THE GLOBAL CONTEXT THE REPUTATIONAL

We are all aware of heightening global CONTEXT concerns about climate change. As a world-changing University, Glasgow The Climate agreement, drafted in 2015, must react to the global climate crisis – it is saw 195 countries agree on the need to limit undeniably the right thing to do given the the increase in average temperature to 1.5oC. scale of the challenge. Putting climate change at the of our agenda is consistent with In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel for our status as a values-driven institution which Climate Change (IPCC) published a special aims to change lives for the better, for our report which indicated that limiting global own community, for the world at large and for warming to 1.5oC would require ‘net zero’ future generations. More broadly, we aim to carbon emissions by around 2050 (IPCC, be a valuable partner in international efforts 2018); the Panel recognised that any additional to preserve and enhance the world’s natural warming above 1.5oC would significantly assets. worsen the risk of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people Successfully and vigorously addressing worldwide. More recently, the United Nations climate change can only enhance our global Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions reputation. Now, more than ever, the climate Gap Report stated that in order to meet the emergency is prominent on the political 1.5% temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, agenda; all bodies in the public and private carbon emissions would need to be cut by sectors are being held to a higher level of 7.6% a year, each year, for the next decade. scrutiny in this regard. Given the academic expertise they possess and the role they play as education providers, universities have a THE LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT special duty to provide leadership in thought and action. There is also strong pressure from The has also been active both staff and students to demonstrate what in this space. The Climate Change Act 2008 can be achieved and to apply our research committed the UK government to reducing knowledge in this sphere. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. A series of Scot- Students are significantly more engaged tish acts, announcements and reports followed, with the climate change agenda than other culminating in the Climate Change (Emission sections of the population – in response to Reduction Targets) Act 2019; this a NUS survey in May 2019, 91% of students established a legally binding net-zero target of responded that they were ‘fairly or very 2045 for Scotland. It set interim targets of 75% concerned about climate change’. This is the and 90% reductions compared with 1990 levels highest percentage to date – an increase from by 2030 and 2040 respectively. 74% in 2016.

3 There are social, cultural and geopolitical complexities related to the climate DECLARATION OF emergency. The only way to manage these challenges CLIMATE EMERGENCY is for multiple sectors and disciplines to come together to reduce our reliance on carbon and to support the social implications of that. In October 2017, the University of Glasgow signed the Sustainable Development Goals Professor Jaime Toney, Director, Centre for Sustainable Solutions Accord. This committed us to combatting poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental degradation, and to promoting peace and justice. In May 2019, in response to a call from the Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges (EAUC), we made a formal declaration of climate emergency and pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by a specified date. To support this work, we commissioned consulting engineers to review our current position and advise on next steps.

4 THE CURRENT SHRINKING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT According to the consultants, The following are put forward 4. Deployment of an Air Source if the University maintained as the type of actions which Heat Pump in suitable POSITION its pre Covid-19 trajectory, collectively will allow us to standalone buildings. our carbon footprint would achieve a significant reduction 5. Introduction of solar panels

rise to 64,940 tCO2e by 2035 in our carbon footprint: in suitable locations.

The University has made progress in recent However, looking forward, our next publicly and to 75,366 tCO2e by 2045. years. In 2015/2016, our carbon footprint stated target (as per our public sector climate Instead of this, we have 1. Energy efficiency The total cost of these works

was 69,591 tCO2e; by 2018/2019 the figure change duties report) is a reduction in emissions identified a series of actions improvements involving is estimated at ca. £60m,

had reduced to 60,358 tCO2e – a decrease of to 55,500 tCO2e by 2020/2021; this would entail which, taken together, would heating, ventilation, exclusive of fees and inflation. 13.27%. This is largely attributed to increased reducing emissions by 20% from a 2015/16 reduce our carbon footprint air-conditioning (HVAC); In addition, we are assuming

efficiencies from the introduction of the baseline. We expect to meet this target but only to ca. 32,000 tCO2e by 2035. lighting; insulation; and further grid decarbonisation, Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system and because the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 The professional advice is that fabric improvements to no further expansion of the the decarbonisation of grid. These pandemic has dramatically reduced commuting further reductions below this specific buildings. These estate beyond the old Western figures include Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 and business travel since March 2020. level would be hard to achieve, could reduce emissions by Infirmary site, and a reduction

(indirect) emissions, and also some Scope 3 but that we could aim to hold 4,200 tCO2e over ten years. in business travel flights and emissions such as businessUNIVERSITY travel. OF GLASGOW steady at that level thereafter. 2. Installation of a Water Source commuting emissions of Heat Pump (WSHP) at the 3% per annum until 2035, CARBON FOOTPRINT 2018/19 The graph below displays the Garscube Campus in 2025. then stabilisation. Lastly, the (measurements in ton CO2e) potential reductions in carbon This is projected to displace numbers assume that the

emissions until 2045 (starting 2,375 tCO2e. University’s staff and student UofG CARBON with the pre-coronavirus 3. Installation of a WSHP at headcount will grow by only FOOTPRINT 2018/19 assumption that we would Gilmorehill in 2030 projected 3% a year over Refrigerant miss our 2020 target of 55,000 to displace 3,800 tCO e. the period. (measurements in ton CO e) Emissions 2 2 1,265 tCO e). Business 2 Flight Travel Related 13,194 13,009 Waste 70,000 Figure 3: Production Projections for 685 Gas/Oil Aggregated Consumption CO2 Emissions 60,000 to 2045 (Taken 57,901 from consultants’ Fleet ,65 17,500 Vehicles 283 report, September 430 2019)

50,000 ,66 48,678 Electricity ,806 Consumption 3

,75 16,990 40,000 as uels Car 0,522 37,386 lectricity Commuting Related ,76 Business ravel lights 6,015 358 Business ravel 32,122 32,399 32,020 Other ,036 8,566 2,73 2,40 2,666 30,000 452 403 507 Water 3,638 Consumption 8,566 8,566 8,566 273 7,75 Staff/Student 2,34 Commuting 20,000 6,663 6,663 10,021 6,663

0,33 5,2 5,2 5,222 0,000 20,83 Total 60,358 5,228

Our footprint equates to the annual carbon cost of producing the food for 8,36 8,36 8,36 8,36 22,999 meat eaters, 43,403 vegetarians, or 57,220 vegans* *based on Scarborough, P., Appleby, P.N., Mizdrak, A. et al. Climatic Change (2014) 125: 179-192 0 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045

5 A REQUIREMENT FOR CARBON OFFSETTING

The University will focus on Global Challenges Research reducing its carbon footprint Fund and other sources. as much as possible between Organisations like the EAUC now and 2035; at the same are exploring the scope for time, we will phase in the use collaboration across the higher of offsetting to help reduce education sector to provide a our net carbon footprint bespoke approach to offsetting during the 2020s and achieve which can be seamlessly net carbon neutrality by 2030. linked to academic activity; the At that point, the University benefits for local biodiversity will have the option of holding and local communities will also its position or electing to go be paramount. further and becoming carbon net negative. As well as using offsetting to help achieve net carbon Gold standard offsetting neutrality in relation to Scope (involving carbon credits 1 and 2 emissions, we that are real and verifiable) will address the impact of

currently costs £20 per tCO2. international student travel by If emissions are reduced to offsetting one return journey

37,000 tCO2e per annum a year for every student from by 2030, this would mean a outside . cost of £740,000 per annum from 2030, reducing to We will build the financial approximately £640,000 per costs of achieving net carbon annum from 2035. neutrality by 2030 into our financial and capital plans. At Offsetting is not just about the same time, we recognise salving our institutional that circumstances may conscience – it can also deliver change, and that while our tangible benefits. For example, goals should remain fixed, reforested land or restored circumstances and the best peatland in Scotland could route to achieving them may provide research and learning change. opportunities for academics and students, while projects We will therefore monitor in low- & middle-income carefully the financial cost of countries (LMICs) can improve different interventions on the the quality of life for people road to carbon neutrality and around the world; again, will be prepared to review the these interventions could list of measures we implement. be combined with research initiatives funded by the UK’s

6 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

Under the Climate Change Scotland Act ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONS (2009), the University has an obligation to ensure our estate is resilient in the future. We There are several other interventions which will be We will work closely with , friendly vehicles through a range of financial and have already developed a Climate Change necessary and important aspects of our strategy which is also developing a plan to achieve carbon other incentives. The take-up of electric vehicles Adaptation Plan for the University, which whether or not they are essential for achieving net neutrality by 2030. Through our involvement may advance more quickly than is assumed in the describes a range of adaptation actions that zero carbon neutrality. with Sustainable Glasgow, we will contribute to consultants’ projections, yielding further reductions we will take over the next 10 years. However, and benefit from collaborative initiatives such as in emissions. the University cannot achieve climate We need to address the issue of space utilisation improved public transport, joined up active travel resilience in isolation – we must continue to much more seriously than we have up till now. provision and low-carbon district heating networks. Finally, we will continue to foster green spaces and address this through the Climate Ready Clyde Despite the pressure of numbers in our growing biodiversity on the University’s campuses. We will partnership. Continued collaboration in such University community, the use of space across Alongside efforts to increase usage of public utilise our campuses to showcase our approach to areas as transport infrastructure, utilities and campus is patchy – there is considerable scope for transport and active travel, we will aim to reduce environmental sustainability, making particular use IT will be essential. Building new partnerships progress in this area through central management the impact of commuting by encouraging the use of the University’s 850-acre farm at Cochno. This with like-minded organisations will enable the of rooms, more efficient sharing of accommodation of electric and hybrid vehicles. Many members should help to raise awareness of sustainability sharing of best practice across and beyond and strategic disinvestment of inefficient buildings. of staff live at a distance from the campuses and issues as well as creating a more pleasant and the city of Glasgow. Flexible working policies (on which more below) will remain dependent on use of private vehicles for healthy working environment. In addition, it will be an important part of this story. commuting; we will encourage a trend which create a test bed for research and education by is already underway towards environmentally using the campus as a ‘living lab’.

7 ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: KEY STRANDS

What are the specific steps we need to take to achieve carbon neutrality and resilience, and contribute more generally to the sustainability agenda? We will organise these around the following headings:

ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY

Under this heading, we will ensure that the network to raise awareness and promote PROMOTING climate emergency is placed at the heart of what engagement within the student body. EFFICIENCY we do over the next 20 years. We will strive to • Ensure clear and coherent communications engage the entire University community and regarding environmental actions at the ensure that everyone is enabled to make a University of Glasgow. difference. • Create a new ECO-HUB space on campus to allow for more effective engagement with our GOVERNANCE Specifically, we will: student body. AND POLICY • Ensure that the forthcoming University • Significantly enhance staff and student Strategy places a strong emphasis on our engagement through regular public forums to commitment to addressing the climate help forge an organisation-wide response to emergency. the climate emergency. • Through for Sustainable Solutions, • Organise an annual careers fair, showcasing CONTINUOUS we will signpost funding opportunities for green job opportunities to our students. IMPROVEMENT academics, publicise our sustainability- • Overhaul and expand our catering offering to themed research and related projects, ensure promote sustainable, climate-friendly, healthy INITIATIVES that sustainability is woven into the fabric of diets, emphasising locally sourced produce, BUILDING the curriculum, develop tools to improve staff/ seasonality, organics, and vegetarian options. student knowledge and facilitate behavioural • Promote flexible working that fosters a healthy RESILIENCE change. work/life balance, enables home-working THROUGH • Promote research on aspects of sustainability and reduces the need for commuting, while PARTNERSHIPS and the UN’s Sustainable Development recognising the impact this can have on Goals, where this matches the academic overall emissions. strengths of the University. • Continue to expand the range of online • Promote the development of Green Impact postgraduate programmes, professional Teams across the University to encourage development opportunities, short courses and active engagement by staff. MOOCs (massive online open courses) that • Continue to use the GUEST (student intern) we offer.

8 GOVERNANCE & POLICY Under governance and policy, we • Review all other existing environmental will structure our governance and policies and action plans, in the management, and allocate appropriate light of our declaration of climate resource under both capital and revenue to emergency, to ensure they are fit for initiatives that make a significant impact on purpose (Energy Strategy, Strategic our carbon footprint. Travel and Transport Plan, Waste Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy, Design In particular, we will: Standards, Sustainable Food Strategy). • Ensure appropriate oversight of all • Pursue opportunities to collaborate climate emergency-related work through with the City of Glasgow and other regular meetings of our Sustainability local and national partners, such as Working Group, with reference to the the Sustainable Glasgow Partnership, views of the University community sought in order to further mitigate our carbon through staff and student engagement. emissions. • Monitor progress at Senior Management • Continue to implement the existing Group, University Court and other University policy of disinvesting in relevant forums. companies engaged in fossil fuel PROMOTING EFFICIENCY • Review our capital spending plans to production. ensure that there is sufficient resource • Use the COP26 UN Climate Change By promoting efficiency, we mean ensuring • Improve the energy efficiency of other available to effectively respond to the Summit (to be held in Glasgow in that our estate and infrastructure is optimally infrastructure, including lighting, HVAC, climate emergency. November 2021) to showcase our organised to reduce our carbon footprint fabric, and sensors, and identify the savings • Develop and implement a travel policy, research output and impact, along with and minimise harm to the environment. The achieved through those initiatives. with the aim of reducing the number our approach to both climate change University’s Smart Campus initiative offers a • Ensure that sustainability is prioritised as part of journeys undertaken for business, mitigation and adaptation. major strategic platform to address this area by of a revised video and telecommunications promoting active travel and reducing • Utilise performance review and harnessing cutting-edge digital technology. strategy, making it easier for staff and carbon emissions from business-related promotions structures to encourage students to reduce unnecessary travel. travel. and reward staff contributions to the We will: • Seek a balance between on-campus and • Develop a servicing strategy for our strategy. • Develop an asset management strategy cloud-based data centres to ensure efficient estate that is efficient, minimises the • Require papers to Court, its sub- which ensures that our estate is appropriately power consumption. number of vehicle movements, reduces committees and Senior Management maintained, with a focus on improving energy • Improve the utilisation rates of teaching the associated impact on pollution Group to include a sustainability impact efficiency and ensuring climate resilience. laboratories and design new research facilities (carbon emissions and particulates), and section. • Put in place robust project governance with energy efficiency in mind. prioritises the safety of pedestrians and • Review this strategy and action plan at mechanisms to ensure that any building • Improve the energy efficiency of laboratories cyclists. five-yearly intervals, with annual interim refurbishment work is carried out with through the S-labs programme and by • Set interim carbon reduction targets reports. sustainable outcomes in mind. acquiring Green Lab Certification through the for the University which match with • Monitor the impact of policies to • Improve the utilisation rates of both centrally Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework the UNEP Emissions Gap Report and ensure fairness and avoid placing and locally managed spaces and ensure that (LEAF). determine the most appropriate form of a disproportionate burden on all newly designed and refurbished spaces • Design future buildings that are district carbon offsetting to help achieve these disadvantaged groups. adhere to agreed space specifications. heating network-ready and able to exploit low- targets (ie a 7.6% reduction in emissions • Exploit advances in renewable energy carbon heat sources. per year). technology to ensure that our estate is • Drive further improvements in space efficiency heated in the most carbon-efficient manner, and foster collaborative working practices by employing water and air source heat pumps, refurbishing office spaces that facilitate agile and solar panels. working.

9 For students, there’s a real sense that universities have a duty to be leaders and drivers of change in society. Caring about the environment and sustainability is something many students want universities to take a lead in addressing. Students expect UofG to take a leading role in COP26 and show it can live up to its reputation as a world-leading, world- changing University.” Amy Mackenzie Smith, Vice President, Student Activities

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH Under this heading, we will take forward a range • Promote active travel and enable staff and PARTNERSHIPS of initiatives which help us reduce waste and students to use environmentally friendly contribute to the wider sustainability agenda. transport methods. We will lead or contribute to a range of initiatives • Seek to raise funds from alumni and grant- • Provide electric vehicle charge points for staff which help prepare us for the effects of climate giving bodies for relevant projects. • Roll out improved internal recycling and on campus. change over the decades to come. • Work with other universities and national composting facilities across our estate over • Introduce the Ecovadis system for monitoring bodies responsible for the environment to the next three years. sustainability-related risks and driving In particular, we will: raise awareness of the climate emergency, • Re-launch the University’s WARPit asset reuse improvements in our supply chain. • Continue to play a role as an active partner in support natural initiatives and ensure that portal, with a much broader focus than just • Introduce Ecosia (which uses all profits to the Climate Ready Clyde initiative, influencing offsetting is taken forward in a responsible, furniture. trees) as the default search engine on decision making at a city-level, to ensure that impactful way. • Install freely available water fountains for staff, University computers. the city region is prepared for climate change. • Be an active member of the Sustainable student and visitors in all our main buildings. • Continue to implement the actions defined in • Freely exchange the knowledge we have Glasgow partnership and contribute to • Phase out single-use plastics from our our Climate Change Adaptation Plan. gained from the Climate Ready Clyde strategy development for the city region, catering operations by December 2021 at the partnership, to ensure that this innovative including co-hosting sustainable solutions latest. approach to delivering climate resilience can partnership events in the lead up to COP26. be replicated elsewhere.

10 CONCLUSION

We commend this strategy and action plan, which reflects the strength of feeling across the University community. Staff and students alike want to see the University of Glasgow play a lead role in tackling the climate emergency – not only to eliminate its own carbon footprint but also to effect change in the UK and beyond. We will do this through the strength our example, through public engagement, via formal education, and through the world-changing research and knowledge exchange we undertake. By setting out a clear strategy and engaging hearts and minds throughout the University, we will make our own community stronger, giving staff and students a sense of belonging to a common endeavour.

Dr David Duncan and Professor Dan Haydon Co-chairs, Sustainability Working Group November 2020