Carbon management
The university takes a comprehensive approach to measuring and reporting its carbon (greenhouse gas) emissions and works to reduce emissions not only through the management of its estate and operations but also through the engagement and education of its students and staff. The university has produced a Carbon Management Plan which sets out how 91吃瓜网 plans to reduce its carbon emissions.
The university has set itself demanding targets for reducing its carbon emissions. These targets include carbon emissions from energy use and 91吃瓜网 owned vehicles (known as scope 1 and 2 emissions), and emissions from waste, water, business travel, staff and student commute, international student travel, UK based student travel, and procurement (which are collectively known as scope 3 emissions).
In November 2019 the university recognised and acknowledged the Climate Emergency and agreed carbon reduction targets for the university of:
- achieving net zero carbon emissions from scope 1 and 2 sources by 2032
- achieving net zero carbon emissions from scope 3 emissions by 2045
Achieving net zero emissions means removing as many emissions as we produce. This not only includes reducing emissions but also how we manage resources and land use and includes issues such as carbon offsetting.
As part of the university's acknowledgement of the Climate Emergency it has also committed to:-
- Intermediate carbon budgets from 2020 towards the 2032 and 2045 targets
- Divest from any investment in fossil fuel extraction by 2023
- Work with Leicester City Council and other partners to support local action on the climate emergency
- Engage staff and students on climate change issues through the Carbon Literacy project
- Establish cross-university working groups in relation to key areas e.g. energy, procurement, and travel
- Complete an analysis of climate-induced risks to core operations of 91吃瓜网
- Establish a communication strategy and brand for 91吃瓜网’s climate change and sustainable development initiatives
Progress against these commitments will be reported on a regular basis to senior management and through annual sustainability reports.
Our progress on reducing emissions
91吃瓜网 has been using 2005/06 as the baseline year for calculating emissions reductions due to the availability of data for that period. In 2005/2006 the university had emissions of:
- scope 1 and 2 emissions of 13,217 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon equivalent)
- scope 3 emissions of 43,832 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon equivalent)
Our progress for these emissions for 2024/2025 was:
- scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions reduced by 65% compared to 2005/2006
- scope 3 carbon emissions are currently 10% higher than the baseline year 2005/2006
Details of the trends in emissions over the past few years at 91吃瓜网 can be seen in graphs below.
Progress against these targets are reported annually. Details of our recent performance against these targets are set out below or can be viewed in the 91吃瓜网 annual sustainability reports.
The projects that will be implemented to reach the carbon reduction targets are contained within the university’s carbon management plan. These projects include implementing renewable energy technologies in 91吃瓜网 buildings, engaging with staff and students on behaviour change projects such as Green Impact and providing information to building users through frequent energy reports.
Our Performance
91吃瓜网 has been monitoring and reporting its greenhouse gas emissions from energy use for a number of years. The figure below shows the trend in greenhouse gas emissions since the baseline year of 2005/06. For the past four years there has been a downward trend in carbon emissions from scope 1 and 2 sources.
Graph description: The graph shows the emissions from electricity and gas/vehicles, relative to the carbon reduction target, measured in Greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e). The tCO2e emissions are measured on the y axis, while the x axis represents the type of emission per academic year. The overall trend from the 2005/06 academic year to the 2024/25 academic year is downward, with a slight increase in 2020/21 due to changes in campus operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
91吃瓜网 has also been recording and reporting our emissions from scope 3 sources. The emissions sources are often overlooked but can account for the majority of an organisations carbon footprint. In the case of 91吃瓜网 the scope 3 sources account for approximately 75% of the university’s carbon footprint.
Greenhouse gas emissions
| Indicators/metrics | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|
| Emissions from energy and 91吃瓜网 owned vehicles (scope 1 & 2) (tCO2e) |
6,694 |
6,130 |
5,280 |
5,016 |
4,604 |
| Emissions from staff and student commute (scope 3) (tCO2e) |
442 |
2,431 |
2,127 |
3,991 |
3,937 |
| Emissions from business travel (scope 3) (tCO2e) |
145 |
536 |
955 |
1,579 |
1,440 |
| Emissions from waste and water (scope 3) (tCO2e) |
470 |
615 |
611 |
769 |
524 |
| Emissions from international & UK student travel (scope 3) (tCO2e) |
10,579 |
14,256 |
17,037 |
20,233 |
11,063 |
| Emissions from private halls of residences (scope 3) (tCO2e) |
2,791 |
2,739 |
1,979 |
1,877 |
1,871 |
| Emissions from procurement activities (tCO2e) |
22,884 |
27,154 |
26,243 |
29,496 |
29,158 |
| Emissions from all scope 3 sources (tCO2e) |
37,331 |
47,815 |
49,086 |
57,084 |
48,062 |
| Total emissions - scope 1, 2 & 3 sources (tCO2e) |
44,026 |
53,945 |
54,403 |
62,100 |
52,666 |
The graph below shows the extent to which scope 3 emissions contribute to the total carbon footprint at 91吃瓜网 and how these emissions have been reducing since the baseline year of 2005/6.
Graph description: The graph measures the carbon emissions (y axis) of different university activities, per academic year. The activities measured are staff and student commute, private halls, student travel – UK and international, procurement activities, water supply and treatment, waste and recycling, and business travel.
Find out more about 91吃瓜网’s approach to sustainability