The University of Gothenburg s Climate strategy

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1 Guidelines dnr F8 70 / 10 1 / 6 The University of Gothenburg s Climate strategy Published Decision-maker Contact person Vice-Chancellor Date of decision 14/06/2010 Period of validity 31/12/2015 Edition date Environmental Manager Eddi Omrcen In the event of problems of interpretation or differences between the Swedish and English text, the Swedish text which constitutes the basis of the information, shall always take precedence. Summary Working for a sustainable society is one of the University of Gothenburg s core values. This is manifested not least through the university s focus on sustainable development within research, education and social interaction. The University of Gothenburg currently has more than 600 courses and 280 researchers associated with sustainable development. One major challenge for the University of Gothenburg lies in reducing greenhouse gases alongside increasingly internationalised research and education. The University of Gothenburg has already made a great deal of progress when it comes to environmental work, and is the only university to be both EMAS registered and certified in accordance with ISO This means that, with its well-established environmental management system, the University of Gothenburg is in an excellent position to implement a Climate Strategy and carry out systematic monitoring of this. By having an ambitious target, the University of Gothenburg is able to take responsibility, set an international example and demonstrate that it takes the climate issue extremely seriously.

2 2 / 6 Climate strategy BACKGROUND The University of Gothenburg has an objective of achieving greater internationalisation, and it can be hard to combine this with reducing travel-related emissions. The importance of being visible in the global arena in an academic context and having a physical presence at conferences and other gatherings cannot be over-emphasised. Planning business travel is therefore of particular importance. In doing so, environmental impact, the working environment and cost-effectiveness must all be taken into consideration. Our Climate Strategy demonstrates a desire to pay more attention to environmental impact when planning travel. The University of Gothenburg is already at the leading edge of the work to reduce our impact on the climate and to generate relatively low levels of emissions. The University of Gothenburg s Climate Strategy is a way of retaining this position as a low-emission player and to make continuous improvements within environmental and climate-related work. For many years, the University of Gothenburg has pursued issues that are of great immediate interest if Sweden is to achieve the national environmental target of limiting its impact on the climate while remaining competitive. Working for a sustainable society and acting accordingly has a high symbolic value, and is important in order to achieve broad joint support with other leading universities to prevent global warming. Researchers at the university have worked with climate issues for a long time, and examples of projects within this field include The price of the future, Should we offset carbon dioxide?, Reduced tropical deforestation, Costs and effects in the carbon dioxide market, Marine acidification the new environmental threat, Institutional conditions for successful adaptation in line with climate changes in developing countries and Fair and achievable climate adaptation. A number of measures that have already been carried out or which are currently being carried out are in line with the university s climate target. The Division of Buildings and Services works with the issue of energy, IT Services works with e-meetings, video conferences and server improvements, Services works with car pooling and climate-smart food, Human Resources works with travel, and Finance works with purchasing coordination and transport. According to the UN s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global average temperature must not rise more than two degrees above the pre-industrial level, and in order for this to be possible the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide must be reduced to a level below 350 ppm. If the increase in temperature cannot be limited to two degrees above the pre-industrial level, the risk of irreversible climate-related consequences such as melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels and major changes within the forestry and farming systems rises dramatically. Those counties that emit the lowest levels of greenhouse gases per capita are those who are affected the most by the consequence of global

3 3 / 6 warming. Working to reduce our impact on the climate and to take responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our activities is therefore a matter of global fairness. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) The CDM is governed by the Kyoto Protocol, and means that the developed nations can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. These emission reductions can then be taken into account in the developed nation. The system is administered by the UN. The aim of the CDM is to achieve cost-effective reductions in emissions, transfer technology to poor countries, and contribute towards sustainable development. The World Wide Fund for Nature has developed a grading system for CDM projects, called the Gold Standard. The Gold Standard requirements are based on projects that clearly demonstrate that they contribute towards sustainable development in developing countries. For more information, see TARGET AND STRATEGY By 2015, the University of Gothenburg shall reduce its total emissions of carbon dioxide by at least 20 percent compared with The University of Gothenburg s Climate Strategy target is to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by 2015 by at least 20 percent compared with 2008 levels. This is being achieved mainly through farreaching energy efficiency measures and by adapting business travel in line with climatic and environmental considerations. In order to balance the university s emissions, the university will apply carbon offsetting by investing in a Gold Standard Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project. Carbon offsetting should be viewed as secondary to energy efficiency measures and climate-friendly, environmentally-friendly travel. In order to achieve a reduction of 20 percent compared with 2008 levels by , the following action areas have been identified: 1 The university of Gothenburg emitted 7800 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2008 from business travels, energy and heating.

4 4 / 6 Travel and meetings Energy Carbon offsetting Areas with an indirect positive or negative impact on the climate have also been identified. These can reinforce the University of Gothenburg s climate-related work: Research and education Cooperation and communication Coordinating purchasing and transport Computer use Food In order to win support for this strategy and to drive its implementation forwards, the university has formed an internal Climate Committee consisting of climate researchers, management representatives and student representatives. The task of the Climate Committee is to provide guidance and opinions on the university s climate-related work, and to assess the measures described in the strategy. It is also proposed that the University of Gothenburg should contract a visionary leader for the Climate Committee, with the task of providing suggestions on how the university, industry and politicians can work together on issues relating to sustainable development and reducing climatic impact. The existing working party will be tasked with drawing up an action plan to realise the Climate Strategy and with initiating and coordinating cooperation with students. Strategic funds have been allocated for planning and implementing various climate projects within the identified action areas. The Climate Strategy work is monitored by the Environmental Unit together with the Climate Committee in connection with the annual Sustainability Report. ACTION AREAS Research and education Research and education are the University of Gothenburg s core operations. A great deal of transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research is carried out at the university, consisting in whole or in part of sustainable development elements, and relating particularly to the climate issue. The importance of integrating sustainable development into education cannot be over-emphasised, not least in teacher training in order to make future generations aware of this. Education at first- and secondcycle levels currently includes the integration of sustainable development into existing programmes and courses. The university will work to involve researchers, teaching staff, students and other

5 5 / 6 members of staff in participating in climate work through e.g. degree projects or investigating the possibility of setting up a research school within the field of sustainable development, with climate impact being a sub-area. Cooperation and communication Cooperation is one of the University of Gothenburg s operations. The University of Gothenburg will also increase climate-related cooperation and participate in more outward-reaching projects and activities in order to show that the climate is a prioritised issue. The University of Gothenburg will actively pursue climate issues, together with Chalmers University of Technology, industry and politicians. Energy Through campaigns, information materials and individual measures at the university s various faculties, together with close cooperation with property owners, the university s overall energy consumption shall be reduced. Energy-efficient buildings and energy-efficiency measures in existing buildings will be a focus of this strategy. By 2015 at the latest, the University of Gothenburg s electricity supplies shall be certified in accordance with Good Environmental Choice or equivalent. The University of Gothenburg shall also strive to use green and energy-saving construction methods when carrying out new-building and renovation work, and for all property installations to be made energy-efficient. Travel and meetings A new Meeting and Travel Policy has been drawn up. Non-travel is a new feature of this new policy. This means that for each instance of travelling, employees are encouraged to investigate the possibility of replacing this with a telephone, video or web-based meeting. However, being visible in the global arena in an academic context is extremely important to the university. In order to avoid a conflict of goals, the University of Gothenburg will make the necessary investments for a joint university infrastructure solution for videoconferencing. The university will also work to ensure that all employees have access to good equipment for videoconferencing and web-based meetings at faculty level as a minimum, and that all employees receive sufficient training in how to use this technology. Climate compensation The University of Gothenburg will apply carbon offsetting for its total carbon dioxide emissions. This will be done by investing in a Gold Standard Clean Development Mechanism project. Respect for human rights and a fair distribution of commitments between nations in climate issues are two aspects that are of great importance when it comes to selecting carbon offsetting projects. The possibility of internal carbon offsetting will be investigated. Coordinating purchasing and transport

6 6 / 6 The University of Gothenburg shall impose requirements in terms of energy performance and ecolabelling in procurement and framework agreements. By working to coordinate aspects such as the delivery of goods to the university, the university s suppliers can reduce their climate impact. Through close cooperation between the Procurement Unit and the Environmental Unit, tougher demands are placed on climate-friendly transportation and purchasing. Computer use Guidelines for green computer use at the university were established in autumn These guidelines aim to reduce energy consumption through recommendations for e.g. monitor energy-saving settings, printer settings and PC power supplies. In connection with the Climate Strategy, the University of Gothenburg will update the existing green guidelines for computer use and circulate these. The Office of the CIO will carry out the GU Computer Workplace project. It will be possible to control the new computers centrally with regard to e.g. software updates, back-up services and energy settings. Food Meat consumption is linked to greenhouse gas emissions. The University of Gothenburg will work together with students and teaching staff to draw up climate-smart menus for the university s restaurants. Through training, workshops, etc., students and staff will be able to learn how to use climate-smart tools in relation to food.