Tuesday 10 November 2020

University of Sheffield pledges carbon neutrality by 2038

The University of Sheffield has pledged to ensure its campus is carbon neutral by 2030 and across all its activities by 2038.

The commitments have been outlined in its new five-year sustainability strategy, which includes commitments to embed Education for Sustainable Development in all taught courses, maintain a 100% renewable-procured electricity supply and tackle high carbon travel practices.

The latest pledges follow the university's announcement last year that it had fully divested its endowment from fossil fuel investments and reduced its carbon emissions by 35% between 2005 and 2019.

The university said it is also connecting its research and teaching to sustainability challenges and net zero ambitions and is working with partners to support Sheffield City Region to become a national leader in sustainability.

Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice Chancellor added: “The world is facing a climate emergency and universities are uniquely placed to respond to the global challenges that we face. We aim to become one of the most sustainable research-intensive universities in the country by aligning our research, teaching and campus to ensure sustainable practice across everything we do. We will become net carbon neutral on campus by 2030 and across all activities by 2038.

“The challenges we face are multifaceted and any action we take to overcome them requires a careful balance between environmental, economic and social factors to understand their full impact. But we will never lose sight of the urgent need to cut emissions, restore habitats and secure our planet for the future.”