Queens University, Belfast has said it is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gases by 2040; the move builds on previous research and education work by the university.
The new Net Zero plan builds on previous work over 12 years which had already reduced carbon emissions by 21%.
The plan, which was launched yesterday (October 19) by Friends of the Earth Director and Former Green Party Co-Chair Sir Jonathan Porritt, uses the university’s 2018-19 emissions of 105, 433 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) as a baseline.
The actions the institution will take include decarbonising heating systems, improving the energy efficiency of buildings, reducing waste, avoiding unnecessary business travel, and collaborating with regional partners and NGOs.
The university divested from fossil fuels in 2017 after a two-year long campaign by students.
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox each morning
Queens University, Belfast associate pro vice chancellor for strategic projects and sustainability Professor Michael Alcorn said: “The climate crisis will have a significant impact on younger members of society in years to come. As a higher education institution, we have a responsibility to limit our impact and to prepare students for a changing and challenging future.”
Queen’s head of sustainability Sara Lynch added: “Our new target therefore reflects the need for a step change in ambition, investment, and operations, as how we, as a University community study, live and work on campus”.
“We know this is not a simple journey but is necessary and urgent”.
Other campuses including the University of the Arts London, Birkbeck College, University of London, University of Bedfordshire and Wrexham Glyndwr University have all also recently divested from fossil fuels.
According to recent findings from Make My Money Matter 90 of the universities who said they had divested from fossil fuels continue to have links with banks including HSBC, Santander, Natwest and Lloyds — which are known to invest in the sector.
