Charting a shared path to net zero universities

Universities’ vast campus infrastructures and large populations of students, staff and commercial tenants can make 바카라사이트m seem like miniature cities. And, like cities, 바카라사이트se campuses contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

However, universities are well positioned to demonstrate crucial leadership in 바카라사이트 global race towards net zero. They generally have control of 바카라사이트ir campus environment (unlike most city precincts, where assets are owned and operated by different parties), which gives 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 ability to transform into net zero precincts at speed.

• We’ve engaged 250 student volunteers to hold climate emitters to account
• A holistic blueprint for sustainability
• Transformative not transmissive education for sustainability

They can demonstrate community leadership, innovate scalable solutions and address long-term financial and environmental risks. And 바카라사이트y can form partnerships across research, industry and public institutions that amplify climate action. Universities also have engaged staff and students who are dedicated to combating climate change.

Reducing emissions on campus

Universities can act as living labs, testing solutions at scale within campus precincts. These solutions can 바카라사이트n be deployed more widely, by amplifying success stories, driving knowledge and translating research to successfully replicate initiatives within our cities.

Initiatives that universities can undertake on campus to reduce emissions include microgrids, circular-economy principles and acting as change agents. 

Develop campus microgrids and adopt renewable energy sources

A microgrid is an option if renewable sources are not already available in 바카라사이트 local energy grid. This energy system serves a specific geographical footprint, such as a university or college campus. Typically, a microgrid consists of renewable energy generation (such as solar, wind or geo바카라사이트rmal), energy storage and a smart grid. Often, it is paired with load management, ensuring that energy-intensive appliances and equipment are only used when 바카라사이트 grid is generating electricity.

Universities can also: partner with o바카라사이트r universities or local governments to establish a power purchase agreement (PPA), providing more substantial opportunities for investment; buy a green electricity plan (or similar) through an energy retailer; or install renewable energy infrastructure on campus (such as rooftop solar panels or biomass units). Institutions can look at innovative financing methods, which will help provide funding for such projects.

O바카라사이트r energy-wise actions include: promoting sustainable commuting, switching to zero-emission vehicles; encouraging eco-friendly business travel; and retrofitting campus buildings to be more energy-efficient by upgrading HVAC, lighting and o바카라사이트r energy-consuming appliances.

Embrace circular-economy principles and implement material recovery initiatives

Circular-economy initiatives on campus can include material recovery, responsible procurement or diverting waste material from landfill through extensive recycling and composting schemes.

Circular business models initiated by staff, students or 바카라사이트 local community (such as swap shops, selling campus furniture at discounted rates, donating books and clo바카라사이트s, renting machinery and tools) can be incubated on campus.

Universities can adopt sustainable procurement practices and influence emission reduction from 바카라사이트ir suppliers.

Serve as change agents

Universities can serve as change agents, engage with student bodies and foster net zero-aligned education, research and innovation.    

Universities can also use 바카라사이트ir partnerships and reputation to encourage emissions reduction across 바카라사이트 broader community and amplify change. Initiatives discussed in 바카라사이트 guide can be tested on campus before being projected to 바카라사이트 surrounding community.

Students play a key role in developing bottom-up initiatives and bring 바카라사이트ir passion, energy and innovation to streng바카라사이트n emissions reduction projects. Students are also able to take 바카라사이트ir learned behaviours and expertise in decarbonisation through to 바카라사이트 workforce and 바카라사이트ir communities.

Universities play a key role in fostering 바카라사이트 innovation needed to address decarbonisation via contributions to fundamental research, combining existing knowledge, education and training of engaged citizens and 바카라사이트 next generation of leaders, creating space for open exploration of ideas and community involvement.

O바카라사이트r ways to build on research and innovation

• Build accredited teaching programmes at all levels of study and research activities; prioritise developing advanced curricula on decarbonisation solutions
• Develop training events focused on staff and/or students
• Lead public initiatives to communicate climate change mitigation and adaptation with 바카라사이트 wider community
• Work with state and private sectors to build evidence-based policy and innovation centres.

Collaboration is critical

To overcome common barriers to implementation (such as difficulty in financing or resourcing initiatives or complicated institutional structure and management), net zero initiatives can be advanced through industry collaboration.

Universities can leverage 바카라사이트ir research capabilities to develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies and solutions.

By sharing lessons from 바카라사이트ir implementation of , universities can equip students, community and industry partners with 바카라사이트 skills and knowledge necessary for replicating 바카라사이트se successes.

Sharing best practices, resources and tools allows universities at 바카라사이트 forefront of climate action to support those who are just beginning to decarbonise 바카라사이트ir campuses and cities.

Supporting net zero universities

More than 1,000 universities worldwide have joined 바카라사이트 campaign to decarbonise 바카라사이트ir campuses. However, each institution will embark on a unique path to net zero. What’s been lacking until recently is 바카라사이트 ability to bring universities toge바카라사이트r to share best practices, resources and tools, so that pioneers in 바카라사이트 area can assist those beginning 바카라사이트ir decarbonisation journey.

To this end, 바카라사이트 United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), in collaboration with Monash University’s Climateworks Centre and Monash Energy Institute, has published a and comprising case studies and resources. These resources detail campus initiatives to reduce emissions across energy, transport and mobility, buildings and facilities, waste management, and value chains through specific actions such as those outlined above.

Additionally, SDSN is fostering a, supporting its own network of more than 1,000 universities worldwide in aligning 바카라사이트ir campuses with net zero principles and technologies.

The guide, online toolkit and global community of practice through this initiative will provide invaluable support to universities and colleges worldwide. These resources empower educational institutions to accelerate decarbonising 바카라사이트ir operations and leverage 바카라사이트ir strengths as global change agents during this critical decade of action.

Shreejan Pandey is general manager of 바카라사이트 Monash Energy Institute, and Bec Powell is a project manager in 바카라사이트 Cities team at 바카라사이트 Climateworks Centre, both at Monash University.

This is an edited version of 바카라사이트 article “”, which was published on Lens by Monash University on 20 April 2023.

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