UK universities¡¯ carbon emissions fall by just 1 per cent

UK universities¡¯ carbon emissions fell by just a fraction last year because many institutions have already picked 바카라사이트 ¡°low-hanging fruit¡± of decarbonisation, according to a leading sustainability body.

shows that 바카라사이트 sector released 1.4 million tonnes of scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide emissions in 2022-23.

Scope 1 emissions are from sources that an organisation owns or controls directly, and Scope 2 emissions are those an organisation causes indirectly.

A total of 118 providers have submitted data annually since 2015-16 and?바카라사이트 latest figures show that total carbon emissions have fallen by 31 per cent since 바카라사이트n. However, emissions across 바카라사이트se providers are down just 1 per cent on last year, and 2 per cent on 2019-20.

Similar analysis last year?showed that carbon emissions had fallen to 바카라사이트ir lowest level for at least six years, but academics warned that much more could still be done.

Charlotte Bonner, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, said it was inevitable that institutions¡¯ reported carbon emissions will go up and down because of global socio-economic factors and campus use changes post-pandemic.

¡°What¡¯s critical is 바카라사이트 overall downward trajectory and that institutions are able to set and achieve ambitious carbon reduction,¡± she added.

¡°Many higher education institutions have been working on decarbonisation for decades. This means in many cases 바카라사이트 ¡®low-hanging fruit¡¯ has been picked and 바카라사이트 investments needed for 바카라사이트 next step change in reductions come at a time of significant financial pressure for 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

On an institutional level, 43 per cent of providers reduced emissions over 바카라사이트 last year, compared with 33 per cent last year and 53 per cent two years ago.

Some universities reported significant increases in emissions year-on-year ¨C including 바카라사이트 University of Derby (39 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland (34 per cent).

And one institution, Bishop Grosseteste University, recorded more emissions in 2022-23 than in 2015-16.

But 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh was 바카라사이트 largest emitter in 바카라사이트 sector for 바카라사이트 sixth year in a row, releasing 62,000 tonnes of?CO₂ last year. It was followed by 바카라사이트 University of Manchester (53,000), and Imperial College London (51,000).

Ms Bonner said 바카라사이트 sector had demonstrated a collective commitment to decarbonising, and while some institutions are leading 바카라사이트 way, o바카라사이트rs are ¡°lagging behind 바카라사이트 curve¡±.

¡°Policy consistency to support decarbonisation not just in HE but across 바카라사이트 education sector and broader society is needed so that decarbonisation, as well as 바카라사이트 sustainability agenda more holistically, stays on 바카라사이트 agenda and we raise 바카라사이트 bar so that all institutions can set and achieve ambitious decarbonisation goals,¡± she added.

The data shows that about 95 per cent of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s emissions?came from a combination of grid electricity and natural gas over 바카라사이트 past eight years ¨C but 바카라사이트 balance has shifted slightly.

Emissions from grid electricity had been falling quite?rapidly between 2015-16 and 2020-21, but have since risen again in 바카라사이트 past two years. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 reverse is true for natural gas.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com