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The University Climate Plan so far...

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My name is James and I’m one of the Sustainability Managers in the Sustainability Service at Leeds.
I’m responsible for many of the environmental aspects of sustainability at the University, but over the past year or so I’ve been pulling together the University Climate Plan.

I’m aware that is has been a long time coming for many, so hopefully this will give a bit of background and let you know what to expect.

What is the climate plan?

The Climate Plan describes how we’ll deliver the University’s 7 Climate Principles and, similarly, it is broad in scope covering everything from net-zero through to sustainability in the curriculum. Each of the seven sections covers one of the principles and includes a commitment, supporting objectives and actions.

We see it as a ‘live’ document as it’s important that we move into the delivery phase and ‘learn while doing’ rather than ensuring the next nine years are fully planned out.

What does net-zero mean?

Net-zero refers to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and it means that emissions must be balanced by GHG removals (e.g. through planting new forests).

The UK has committed to this target by 2050 and the University by 2030. We recognize that, due to the shorter time scale, more balancing of emissions will be required by 2030.
I’ve included a quote from the Climate Plan below so you can understand our intentions:

We will prioritise the reduction of direct and indirect greenhouse gases (GHG), eliminating or minimising these as much as possible, while following a zero emissions trajectory. Emissions are balanced by GHG removals only as a last resort.
Initially the 2030 target will include direct and some indirect emissions (electricity, supplied heat, business travel and commuting). We will strive to achieve net-zero across all other indirect emissions and will formally add them to the 2030 baseline and target where there is an achievable reduction pathway.

How have you developed it?

Initial engagement started early in 2019 with a series of workshops questioning what a University response to the climate crisis should look like. These were then used to develop core themes which were explored further through stakeholder workshops. After a review period, the data from these workshops was used to create potential actions and objectives which formed part of a ‘climate roadshow’ in late 2019.

Finally in early 2020 a series of academic working groups ran with a focus on ‘research and innovation’, ‘sustainable curriculum’ and ‘theory of change’.

Over 740 students and members of staff contributed to this development phase through the combination of workshops, working groups and the climate roadshow, with the content used to help develop commitments, objectives and actions.

Although progress certainly slowed due to COVID-19, we’ve also been developing the road-map for achieving net-zero.
We have worked with consultants to develop different options for decarbonising heat, design a retrofit programme and develop a model to review different options. We’ve also been working with the Place-Based Climate Action Network to review our plans.

What are next steps – when will you start making progress?

The next steps are to get the plan signed off and then secure budget to start delivering specific elements such as net-zero. However, we are already making progress.

The real strength in the Climate Plan is in using the collective power of our community to create change and I think we are better connected as a result of developing the Plan. Building on this will be a critical part of ensuring success.

What do you want to achieve?

The new University strategy has helped affirm what our purpose and values should be. At a critical point in history, that purpose and its associated values have never been more important.

For me success will mean that those values are not only promoted through our research and education, but also inform the way we work together as a community. If we are to respond to the climate crisis with the urgency that is required it will require transformations in the way that we do things. Steady incremental change isn’t enough.

The opportunity to use ourselves as a test-bed for a more equitable society that has a positive social and environmental footprint is very enticing. Developing this in collaboration with the City, our networks and international further and higher education is one way we can help create the change we need.

Do you have any concerns?

We need to act fast at a time when everyone is emotionally exhausted from the pandemic. I’m worried that this will slow things down and of course everything will be initially constrained due to the financial impact of the pandemic.

I wish I had an answer to this, but I think a good place to start is with compassion for others perspectives and with an understanding that change can be hard.

How can I get involved?

It’s important to say there is already so much going on in the University. Our research and education already has global impact, many staff are involved in creating local operational change and activism within the University and wider community helps to support change and keep it on the agenda.

We’ll focus on how to get involved in more detail once the climate plan is signed off. As a start the questions below are worth considering:

  • How can we build back better? It’s been an awful year, but some of the short term changes such as reduced travel, improved virtual collaboration tools and minimal use of paper should be maintained to some degree. Can you take personal decisions that support this or influence change in your work place or peer group?
  • What level of influence do you have? Many of us have influence through peer groups, networks or within our roles. Reflect on how you can use this to create change.
  • How can we collaborate better? To harness the collective power of our community we need to work effectively with each other. Is there anything you can do or need from the Sustainability Service to support with this?

Look out for the launch of the Climate Plan later on this year!

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