Climate and sustainability
Image: pixels.com
Image: pixels.com
One of the university's most vital tasks is to drive the transition towards a sustainable society. We do this, among other things, by working proactively and innovatively with our research, education and collaboration, and by reducing emissions from the university's own operations.
Based on the national and international frameworks for climate and sustainability, the university has developed its own regulations and visions that describe how we should work to contribute to the achievement of the UN's global goals in Agenda 2030 and Climate neutrality by 2045. On the web page about our strategic environmental and sustainability work, you can access the university's climate and environmental framework and our action plan (i.e. our climate and sustainability roadmap).
Umeå University has two overall goals and 13 targeted objectives for the climate and sustainability work. Information about the targeted obkectives can be found under each focus area below. The overall goals are:
Umeå University will contribute to achieving the global sustainability goals in Agenda 2030.
In the university’s Sustainability Report, an overview is provided of how Umeå University contributes to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Agenda 2030. By highlighting education, research, collaboration, and the university's other activities, with a focus on increased sustainability, the report gives an understanding of how the university contributes or can contribute, as well as the challenges that exist. The examples mentioned under each goal are just a small selection of all our activities.
Umeå University will be climate-neutral by 2045.
To progressively contribute to society's climate goals, the university has developed a carbon budget. The carbon budget shows emissions from external purchases of goods and services, from purchased capital goods, business travel, as well as emissions from waste management, energy use, and rented premises. The carbon budget indicates that from 2022 until 2045, the university needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 19% each year compared to the previous year in order to align with societal climate goals. The carbon budget is monitored through annual climate audits.
The Climate Account 2022 shows that the university’s activities emitted slightly less than the carbon budget, which was 24,710 tons CO2-eq, with actual emissions at 23,987 tons CO2-eq, distributed as follows:
Scope 1: 49 tons
Scope 2: 679 tons (99 percent of the energy is renewable)
Scope 3: 23,259 tons
The Climate Account 2023 shows that the university exceeded the carbon budget, which was 20,015 tons CO2-eq, with actual emissions at 23,332 tons CO2-eq, distributed as follows:
Scope 1: 44 tons
Scope 2: 732 tons (99 percent of the energy is renewable)
Scope 3: 22,556 tons
Education is the university’s most important contributor to a sustainable transition of society.
New knowledge is a condition for meeting the challenges of society and making a sustainable transition.
Setting requirements when purchasing and procuring helps the university to reduce its climate impact.
Sharing services and climate-friendly solutions can optimise energy consumption and increase utilisation.
The university works actively to increase travel-free meetings and develop the forms for meetings.
By limiting the spread of dangerous substances, the university contributes to sustainable development.
Through our choices and actions as employees and students at the university, we become key players in order to achieve the climate and sustainability goals. This film was made in 2021, to inform and inspire our new employees. Subtitles in English are available.
Learn more about Umeå University’s sustainability work through the Environmental Policy and other frameworks.