Presentation from an internal seminar about universities and climate change, Oxford university in particular.

1. Environmental Change Institute
Universities and Climate Change
Tina Fawcett
(presentation to internal seminar, July 2013)

2. Themes and questions
Themes
A growing sector
What we know about carbon emissions
Oxford University’s environmental performance
The role of universities in the transition to a low carbon society
Questions*
What role could UCU (Universities and Colleges Union) have in
promoting a low carbon / environmental agenda in Oxford
University?
What might a low carbon university or HE sector look like?
* These were open questions for the meeting – not answered by this presentation!

3. Facts and figures
Higher education (HE) is a rapidly expanding industry sector with
global student numbers rising 6% per year during 2002-09.
Overall growth in the UK has been slower than this, but growth of
international students coming to UK reflects global trend.
Student numbers UK, 2007/08 – 2011/12 (Source: HESA, 2013)
2011/12
% change
2007/08 to
2011/12
1,964,315 2,027,085 2,087,615 2,073,070 2,061,410
5%
2007/08
UK
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
Other EU
112,150
117,660
125,045
130,120
132,550
18%
Non-EU
229,640
251,310
280,760
298,110
302,680
32%
2,306,105 2,396,055 2,493,420 2,501,295 2,496,645
8%
Total
UK students are 83% of UK student population.

4. Carbon emissions in HE, UK, 2006
What is the academic
What is the academic
equivalent of ‘love
equivalent of ‘love
miles’?
miles’?
Study miles?
Study miles?
Source: SQW Energy and
SQW Consulting (2009).
Research into a carbon
reduction target and strategy
for Higher Education in
England: A report to HEFCE.
Using my calculations for air
travel by international students

5. The story so far…
Good news
Bad news
The discourse of ‘greening campuses’ has
generated some striking examples of good
practice.
At a sectoral level, there is no evidence of
significant progress in addressing rising
carbon emissions; progress has been at best
sporadic and incremental.
Contributions to research and knowledge
transfer in the fields of climate science and
mitigation.
There is as yet no model of a low carbon
university.
HEFCE has developed a sector-level target for
carbon reduction
New buildings very energy- and electricityintensive in design, and use (24 hr operations)
Funding to English universities is linked to
reduction in carbon emissions
Sector competition based around
internationalising model, increasingly attracting
global staff and students, leading to increasing
air travel
Revolving Green Fund (RGF3): up to £20
million in available recoverable grants

6. Oxford University

University of Oxford FAILED the People & Planet Green League 2013.
Ranked 132nd with a score of 22.0 out of 70 (17 for policy, 5 for
performance)

University has carbon reduction and other sustainability targets and a
sustainability team.

“In 2009/10 the University's total carbon footprint from scope 1 and 2
emissions (i.e. use of electricity and gas) was 80,196 tonnes. To meet the
University's 2020 target we will need to reduce the University's emissions
to 44,152 tonnes.”

Midnight Oil project – reducing energy use from out-of-hours working in
research buildings

7. Green League – detailed scores for Oxford
Criteria
Score
Policy and management section
17/40
Environmental policy
1/3
Environmental management staff
6/8
Environmental auditing & management systems
4/8
Ethical investment
2/3
Carbon management
1/6
Fairtrade and ethical procurement
0/2
Sustainable food
1/3
Staff and student engagement
2/4
Sustainability education and learning
0/3
Performance section
5/30
Renewable energy
2/6
Waste and recycling
1/8
Carbon reduction
0/10
Water consumption
2/6

8. Unions and climate change

ECI was involved in the curtailed Defra-funded ‘Climate
Solidarity’ project on behaviour change at home and in the
workplace, working with four unions.

Environment reps, involvement in larger TUC campaigns
around green jobs

TUC Climate change conference, Monday 21 October 2013,
Congress House London

9. Low carbon universities
Options?
efficient buildings and transport;
reducing travel for HE (higher education) business and as part of staff
and student commuting;
reducing the numbers of international students;
increasing use of distance learning;
changing use of research buildings;
use of lower carbon energy sources.
Obviously some of these options are more challenging / controversial
than others.

10. Low carbon universities
Options?
efficient buildings and transport;
reducing travel for HE (higher education) business and as part of staff
and student commuting;
reducing the numbers of international students;
increasing use of distance learning;
changing use of research buildings;
use of lower carbon energy sources.
Obviously some of these options are more challenging / controversial
than others.