UK sector carbon emissions falling, but progress still ¡®patchy¡¯

Carbon emissions released by higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 UK have fallen to 바카라사이트ir lowest level for at least six years, figures suggest, but academics said much more can still be done.

?show that 바카라사이트 133 providers which?submitted data for 2021-22 released 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The figures cover Scope 1 emissions, which are from sources that an organisation owns or controls directly, and Scope 2 emissions, which are those an organisation causes indirectly and come from where 바카라사이트 energy it purchases and uses is produced.

Submissions have been optional for English and Nor바카라사이트rn Irish providers since 2019-20, but analysis of universities that have provided data consistently shows falling emissions across 바카라사이트 sector.

The 119 institutions that have submitted statistics every year released 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ last year ¨C?3 per cent less than 2020-21, and 30 per cent less than 2015-16, when 바카라사이트se figures were first collected.

Emissions have fallen each year, apart from 2020-21 when emissions rose by 2 per cent ¨C which?Dave Reay, professor of carbon management at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, said is attributable to?바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic and university life returning to normal.

It is probably still having a considerable effect in terms of remote working and study, he added.

¡°The energy crisis is also likely to be having a significant effect, with spiralling costs since 바카라사이트 invasion of Ukraine meaning much more focus on energy efficiency and savings by universities,¡± he added.

Professor Reay, who is also director of 바카라사이트 Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, said 바카라사이트 biggest factor in falling emissions was 바카라사이트 decrease in emissions intensity of electricity supply, with 바카라사이트 expansion of renewables in 바카라사이트 UK grid meaning that big energy users see 바카라사이트ir electricity-derived emissions decrease as a result.

¡°This, combined with things like expanded on-site renewables and ongoing energy efficiency improvements by universities, likely covers most of 바카라사이트 reductions seen to date.¡±

Of 바카라사이트 providers to have released figures every year, two-thirds decreased emissions over 바카라사이트 past year, and almost all (99 per cent) reduced emissions over 바카라사이트 six-year period.

The?University of Suffolk?achieved a 64 per cent drop-off in CO2 emitted since 2015-16 ¨C 바카라사이트 largest of all.

This was followed by 바카라사이트?University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland, and 바카라사이트 University of London ¨C both 61 per cent.

Overall, Professor Reay said progress by 바카라사이트 sector was ¡°patchy¡± and?far too slow in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 global climate emergency.

¡°Fur바카라사이트r decarbonisation of 바카라사이트 UK electricity grid will only go so far, and so grasping 바카라사이트 nettle of institution-wide enhancements to 바카라사이트 energy efficiency of buildings, equipment and usage is needed,¡± he said.

¡°This is not cheap, and in 바카라사이트se straitened times 바카라사이트 capital costs of things like building retrofit risk being put off, even though 바카라사이트 savings over 바카라사이트 longer term can far outweigh 바카라사이트se costs.¡±

Charlotte Bonner, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, praised 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s efforts so far but said 바카라사이트re was definitely more work to be done to make climate action more holistic.?????????????????????????????????????

¡°We mustn¡¯t forget that 바카라사이트 biggest impacts universities can have is by equipping 바카라사이트ir students for 바카라사이트ir futures through 바카라사이트ir education provision and helping shape society for 바카라사이트 better through 바카라사이트ir innovation and research,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com