Social & Environmental Sustainability StrategyOperational Sustainability
Our ambition
Acting in an environmentally responsible way is vital if we are to continue delivering world-leading education and impact into the future.
To ensure we are delivering positive, fair outcomes for all, we will embed sustainability across all operational activities and continue to work towards Net Zero emissions by 2024, and developing a greener and more climate-resilient campus.
The actions we take now to address the climate and nature crises will determine our ability to reach our future Net Zero target. We will take a whole University approach, working with our community, and local and global stakeholders to implement known solutions and adopt innovative approaches to reduce our environmental impact.
A whole institution response
We will set an example by taking bold steps to decarbonise our operations. Ensuring that sustainability is embedded across all our operational activities requires strong leadership and collective action, with all faculties and departments actively participating.
We will achieve this by:
- delivering and enabling engagement activities which promote a positive and inclusive culture
- empowering staff with tailored information, guidance, tools and training to enable everyone across all faculties and departments to understand and minimise the impact of their operational activities
- incorporating sustainability into all University decision-making and governance, ensuring consideration of impacts, for example, investment cases and project approvals
- updating and implementing relevant institutional sustainability policies, which inform staff and student activities, reduce emissions and improve monitoring processes
- leading and engaging with sustainability networks, adopting appropriate best practices and standards that align with improving our operational performance
Delivering operational emissions reductions
Our campus will serve as an example of sustainability: a vibrant, green, healthy space for all.
Our pathway to Net Zero requires continued investment across our estate, including building refurbishments, energy efficiency measures, new heating, cooling and lighting solutions, and renewable power generation systems.
We will achieve this by:
- reducing further our direct and indirect operational emissions associated with fuel and energy usage across our estate (Scope 1 & 2)
- preparing a pathway to Net Zero for the decarbonisation of our estate. This will include infrastructure maintenance and refurbishment, energy efficiency projects and taking steps to ensure we use our buildings in the best way
- working with our Glasgow partners and stakeholders to deliver decarbonisation regionally. For example, continuing our support of Glasgow City Council in delivering their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, specifically a District Heat Network covering the Glasgow City Innovation District
- continuing to reduce the impact of the materials we use, finding innovative ways to reduce our embodied carbon and embed circular economy and reuse principles into our day-to-day activities
- researching funding options to support our shift to a sustainable estate and operational model
Being transparent & accountable of our progress
Having an open and robust approach to progressing our goals is vital to build trust across our staff, students and wider community.
We will deliver accurate and timely reports on our progress towards the ambitions set out in this strategy and supporting implementation plan. We commit to following best practices in both emissions reporting, aligning with the SDGs and other sector and international metrics and standards as they emerge.
We will achieve this by:
- reporting our progress annually, building on statutory climate change and sustainability reporting requirements set by the Scottish Government
- ensuring that our Net Zero target remains aligned with up-to-date climate science, and continuing to improve our data quality, particularly for Scope 3 emissions sources
- adopting appropriate sustainability standards and integrating them into future capital projects
- researching and adopting additional standards and tools to measures our success beyond carbon reduction, including social impact and inclusion, climate risk and adaptation
Leaving no-one behind
Our operations are critical to the delivery of our Net Zero ambitions and our ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate change. We will work with our staff, students, partners, and local communities to maximise the societal benefits that our estate can bring and ensure nobody is left behind during the transformation.
We will achieve this by:
- identifying future climate risks to our estate and operations and implementing an action plan to minimise risks and strengthen our resilience against future climate change impacts
- promoting, protecting and restoring biodiversity and the natural environment across our estate and, where possible, that of our partners and local communities
- embedding sustainability within and beyond the laboratory environment and into our scientific research through direct collaboration
- putting sustainable development and social inclusion principles at the heart of the University’s Ethical Investment policy
- developing projects with input from our communities and those most impacted by our activities, delivering meaningful community benefits wherever possible