Goal 13: Policies, processes and practices
The following page outlines specific policies, process and practices in support of Sustainable Development Goal 13 Climate action.
Tracking low carbon energy use
Each year we measure the amount of low carbon energy used across the University. For example in 2022/23 academic year we used 525GJ from low carbon sources. This comprised of energy from wind, solar, nuclear, solar thermal and ground source heat pumps.
Environmental education
We provide local education programs and campaigns focused on climate awareness. Each year, our Great Science Share for Schools initiative engages hundreds of thousands of young people worldwide with a theme of ‘sustainable science.’ This campaign helps young people understand climate change risks, impacts, and strategies for mitigation and adaptation. In October 2021, we hosted a four-day programme addressing some of today’s most pressing climate questions. Held two weeks before COP26, University of Manchester experts shared insights and innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Free, online, and open to all, the festival dedicated each day to one of the four COP26 goals: mitigation, adaptation, finance, and collaboration.
Net zero targets
We have a commitment to become a carbon neutral university by 2038 for Scopes 1 and 2. Work to progress the University towards our zero carbon target is currently underway, with the following principles agreed:
- We will make urgent reductions in the first five years, reducing carbon emissions from a 2018 baseline of 54,000 tCO2 to at least 21,000 tCO2 by 2025.
- All members of the University of Manchester community will understand the problem of climate change in order to make better decisions in their working lives.
- The carbon impact of University activities is part of all strategic decision-making.
Scope 3 emissions include all the carbon associated with our purchasing of goods and services, investments, student and staff travel, waste and the energy used by staff when working off-campus. We have calculated our Scope 3 carbon footprint however further work is currently in progress to make this more accurate and to include all 15 categories under the GHG Protocol. We are also developing a plan on how to achieve net zero in this area. We have far less influence and control over much of our Scope 3 emissions, but we are still responsible for them and they will far exceed our direct emissions from buildings and use of fleet vehicles.
We are signatories to Race to Zero. Our report outlines the progress towards the criteria.
Climate Action Plan
We have a Climate Action plan which is shared with local government and community groups. As part of our publicly available Environmental Sustainability Strategy we produce a detailed and strategic framework for measuring, planning, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and related climatic impacts each year. This is shared with local government and community groups.
We also feed into our local Mayor’s broader local government targets for reductions in GHG emissions as part of our goal to be become a zero carbon city by 2038. This is one of the most ambitious plans of any major city in Europe and our knowledge, research and action is central to this.
The University, as a part of the Manchester Climate Change Partnership (MCCP), actively contributes to a city-wide climate action plan. This plan, in collaboration with the Manchester Climate Change Agency, reflects our shared goal of helping Manchester limit its greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to a changing climate.
Co-operative planning for climate change disasters
We are involved in co-operative planning for climate change disasters at both local and regional levels, working closely with government. Locally, our Grow Green Project supports local government, partners and stakeholders to design and deliver a detailed green infrastructure masterplan for climate action resilience in West Gorton, Manchester. Regionally, our RESIN Eco-cities project involves leading a consortium of researchers at the forefront of urban climate adaptation research.
Inform and support government
Our University informs and supports regional and local government in managing climate change monitoring through various programmes. We played a leading role in the UK Government-funded SCATTER project – Setting City Area Targets and Trajectories for Emissions Reduction – (via BEIS), helping local and regional governments understand their roles in responding to climate change. This project, in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, fostered a strong partnership and facilitated knowledge exchange on a range of climate-related issues. The work by Tyndall Manchester directly supported Greater Manchester’s 5-Year Environment Plan. Locally, we developed ‘Manchester-i‘ a data platform that tracks climate-related warnings and monitors disaster risks, such as flooding, heatwaves, and air quality.
Environmental collaboration with NGO
We collaborate with a wide range of NGOs on climate adaptation. Locally, we collaborate with a NGO – the Manchester Climate Change Agency – a Community Interest Company that takes a lead on Manchester’ climate adaptation work. We sit on its Board. We partner with another local NGO, City of Trees, to support climate adaptation through the Ignition project.