- Universities sign up to commitments on emissions reduction
targets
- Scholarships announced to ensure most talented students can
develop into climate experts
- Government urged to target investment at university
sustainability efforts
Universities across the UK are throwing their weight behind
government aims to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, as part
of efforts to combat the global climate emergency.
Ahead of COP26, 140 universities have backed a new set of
commitments on climate action drawn up by Universities UK,
including emissions reduction targets and a pledge to champion
the UN Sustainable Development Goals Accord.
For over a century, UK universities have led pioneering research
into the causes and effects of climate change, and shared their
expertise with government, businesses and local communities. As
detailed in a new UUK report Confronting the climate
emergency: a commitment from UK universities (attached),
they have also made great strides in making campuses sustainable
and are investing in the future by equipping students with the
knowledge, skills and climate literacy the world needs to find
solutions to the climate crisis.
A number of universities are introducing COP26 scholarships to
ensure the brightest and best talent can develop into the climate
leaders of tomorrow. Vice-Chancellors are calling on the
government to acknowledge this critical role in the spending
review by match-funding these awards and ensuring the overall
contribution of universities to climate action is not constrained
by budget cuts.
Professor Judith Petts CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Plymouth and Chair of the Universities UK Climate
Task and Finish Group, said:
“There is no simple solution to the climate crisis, with every
sector of the economy facing a different set of challenges.
Universities are some of the most effective weapons in the UK’s
climate and environmental armoury. Our research and expertise is
behind the deep understanding of climate change as well as the
technological advances driving decarbonisation and building
resilience. We are also equipping graduates with the skills and
determination we need to respond to the climate crisis,
generating the leaders of tomorrow to deliver public and
environmental good.
“The commitments universities are making are far more than simply
touting our eco-credentials. But we need government to support
sustainable funding for the sector rather than further cuts, and
specifically we hope that they will recognise the opportunities
of the COP26 scholarships. With stable funding UK universities
will continue to pioneer approaches and provide the world with
the science, skills, and talent needed to safeguard the future of
the planet.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The sector-wide commitments were developed by the
Universities UK Climate Task and Finish Group chaired by
Professor Judith Petts CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Plymouth.
- Universities have agreed to:
- Set targets for scope 1 and 2 emission reductions which
support the government’s plan for reducing emissions by 78% by
2035 and achieving net zero by 2050 at the latest.
- Set a target for scope 3 emission reductions and other
environmental targets beyond emissions as soon as possible.
- Ensure targets are visible on websites alongside information
on how the university is addressing the climate emergency through
teaching, research, leadership, local contributions and campus
responsibilities.
- Clearly define how progress against these targets will be
reported in a transparent, consistent, and understandable way,
and work with official statistics providers to improve data
collection.
- Sign the UN SDG Accord or embed elements of SDG accord
reporting into their existing reporting.
- Use the Climate Commission’s Climate Action toolkit to assess
how further actions through the university’s policies and
reporting could advance the UN SDGs and respond to the climate
emergency.
