This innovative project has been developed as a way to visualise and most importantly to enable implementation of climate action across the University’s operational assets.
This vision has the potential to achieve at scale and at speed decarbonisation that is also socially inclusive. Using a whole systems approach, there are ten work packages contained within the vision. They are all innovative and bold in their approach. They involve multi-stakeholder collaborations and they directly respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12 and 13.
The projects integrate 100% renewable heat, power, transport, adaptation and wellbeing projects at the University’s operational assets. All the projects consider how we can use the natural and physical resources that are available to the University community and city and region stakeholders to tackle climate change.
For example, they include the use of University land for solar arrays and for ground source heat. Working with Glasgow City Council and a technical design team we will use the River Clyde to generate heat for distribution in the Glasgow City Innovation District. We are investigating the use of heat contained within abandoned mine workings below the University’s playing fields at Stepps on the edge of Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.
To achieve success for this ambitious vision, we are engaging with our partners at Sustainable Glasgow, Clyde Mission, and Climate Ready Clyde amongst others.
In the video below, Dr Roddy Yarr, our Executive Lead for Sustainability, talks about our hopes for a Climate Neutral Innovation District.