Mapping out the carbon emissions of a single university is no easy feat, let alone trying to get a picture of the impact of the whole sector.
Institutions are complex beasts, so while many may know the energy usage of their buildings, for example, measuring the commutes of their staff and students – or the carbon used in research projects – is often less well understood.
As global attention turns to the battle to reach net zero by 2050 – and avert the worst of the environmental damage human beings are causing – universities and colleges are uniquely placed to harness their knowledge and influence to make a difference.
This was the belief of the Royal Anniversary Trust in the UK, which set 21 of its most recent prizewinners – all higher and further education institutions – a challenge to look at how to accelerate the sector’s own path to net zero.
