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Universities have been central to driving forward our understanding of the science and the impacts of climate change. They are also where the solutions are being developed around the world to help address the environmental challenges that we are facing. This means that a review of the role
of the HE sector in driving sustainable development is timely, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is currently doing just that, consulting on a framework and carbon reduction target for English universities for 2020. This is directly linked to the UK’s own legally-binding targets from the 2008 Climate Change Act, which involves making a 34% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, leading to a 50% reduction by 2025 and an 80% reduction by 2050. In the first instance, universities need
to lead by example, reducing carbon by cuting their energy demand and using energy more efficiently in their estates and operations. Huge potential still exists from energy efficiency savings, primarily from buildings and transport. And these efficiency savings also help universities to meet two other pressing challenges – making cost savings in a rapidly changing funding environment, and differentiating themselves from other institutions in order to atract paying students. This can be seen in the hotly contested Green Gown Awards, and the vying for rankings in the People and Planet Green League. The financial opportunity from
energy demand reduction is particularly compelling – rising energy prices mean that the potential savings get larger every year. These savings alone should make finance directors sit up and listen. Since 2001 the Carbon Trust has worked with over 3,000 public sector bodies providing them with advice and carbon management services. These organisations have reported actual savings to date of £640m, with potential future savings of £2.6bn. As a result money is freed up for frontline teaching and research – the core purpose of the HE sector. The Carbon Trust is working with
universities to help them do just this. We have worked with over 100 UK universities to help them develop low- carbon investment strategies, covering projects ranging from building retrofit to decentralised energy. And we are now taking the UK’s expertise in carbon reduction and exporting it to emerging economies such as Mexico, China, South Africa and Malaysia. Cardiff Metropolitan University is just
“Through their education and research, universities
have a hugely exciting opportunity to lead the way to a prosperous low-carbon economy in the UK”
Tim Pryce
REDUCING FOOTPRINTS AND INCREASING BRAINPRINTS
Tim Pryce, Head of Public Sector at the Carbon Trust, discusses the role of UK universities in carbon reduction
one example of our work to help cut carbon in the HE sector. Since working with us in 2008, the University has implemented a range of projects, including automatic monitoring and targeting of energy use, and has cut electricity use by 12% and gas use by 5%. This not only equates to total savings of around £1m over five years, it also means a significant reduction in the University’s carbon footprint.
The 'carbon brainprint' of the university sector However, thinking only about university estates and operations misses the real power of the HE sector to drive change. The wider influence of the sector is massive – examples include education for sustainable development (ESD), research, international collaboration, incubating or spinning out startups, skills development, and collaboration with local government and business. In a joint project with HEFCE, Santander and the Carbon Trust, Cranfield University
atempted to quantify the wider carbon reduction impact and potential of this wider influence – and find ways to grow this impact, as well as increasing the scale of low-carbon research and teaching at the University. The term used for this wider impact is 'carbon brainprint' – a way to look at the wider carbon reduction potential of the sector. Through their education and research,
universities have a hugely exciting opportunity to lead the way to a prosperous low-carbon economy in the UK – and to export technology and expertise overseas. They can develop the skills and knowledge that will be crucial to mitigating, and adapting to, climate change in the future. And through their own action, they can demonstrate the reality of a low-carbon economy, as well as tangible cost savings, to students and stakeholders. By reducing their carbon footprints, and
increasing their carbon brainprints, UK universities can be a key part of the solution to climate change. UB
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