Like the UK Government, UK universities have typically adopted bold net zero targets. In the words of Universities UK:
Across the country, universities have stepped up their climate commitments. Not only have many universities committed to the government’s goal of net zero by 2050, but many have shown ambition and leadership by setting much earlier goals of 2030 or 2040.
There is also a sector-wide target set in 2021 of ‘reducing emissions by 78% by 2035 and achieving net zero by 2050 at the latest.’
During the COVID pandemic, there was a dramatic decline in universities’ carbon emissions as campuses were denuded of staff and students. For example, in 2019/20 the University of Sunderland ‘achieved a whopping 65% carbon savings’.
