Performance
The University accepts the moral, legal and practical responsibility to take effective action on climate change.
This includes taking action to reduce the carbon emissions from our direct operations as well as our indirect emissions.
Targets
The Climate Action Plan 2010-2020, sets out the University's contribution towards the ambitious national targets enshrined in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
The plan outlines the aim to achieve a 29% carbon reduction by 2020, against a 2007 baseline.
The University's Strategic Plan 2012-16 includes the strategic theme of Social Responsibility. The key performance indicator for this is carbon emissions per £ million turnover.
The infographic below highlights the University's progress towards achieving a reduction in carbon emissions and against per £ million turnover.
The targets set out within the Climate Action Plan have been challenging, as the university has been successful in growing its teaching and research activities, and has implemented a number of mergers.
As a result, our carbon emissions have increased by 14% since 2007.
We have much work to do to achieve our carbon reduction targets, however the university will continue to invest in energy infrastructure projects and work with staff and students to embed social responsibility and sustainability in all aspects of the university.
Measuring
To calculate our carbon emissions we used the Department of Energy and Climate Change guidance for Carbon Reduction Commitment reporting on greenhouse gas emissions.
This provides advice on measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, providing conversion rates for fossil fuel energy consumption into the equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide.
The data within the infographic highlights carbon emissions from the core estate and accommodation services only. The data included was correct as of the12th December 2013.
