The University of Sheffield has joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Race to Zero campaign to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and has set its own target to be carbon neutral by 2038.
The Race to Zero, backed by the UK Government, is a global campaign to mobilise resources for net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
The university has achieved a 47 per cent reduction in gross carbon emissions since 2005-6, exceeding the University’s targeted 43 per cent cut in carbon emissions over the same period.
The reduction has been driven by a number of factors including efforts to improve energy efficiency on campus, the decarbonisation of the UK electricity grid and the scaling back of campus activities due to Covid-19.
The university has also pledged to become carbon neutral on campus by 2030 and across all its activities by 2038 as part of its sustainability strategy.
Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Race to Zero is an opportunity for the University to publicly commit to climate action. We are guided by climate science which tells us that we must act swiftly to become carbon neutral. The entire University community is working together to drive down our emissions as quickly as possible.”
Jordan Weir, University of Sheffield Students’ Union Development Officer, said to Forge Press:
“I think this is another bold step taken by the University that signifies an increasingly serious attitude to becoming a carbon net-zero campus. The impact of this signature emboldens their position of action on climate change and showcases another victory for student activism on sustainability.
In addition to joining the Race to Zero, the sustainability strategy aims to embed Education for Sustainable Development into all taught causes.
Weir added: “I and the Sustainability Committee have agreed that the commitments within the strategy are a great step forward for sustainability at the institution. We are currently working on an exciting new potential programme to aid in facilitating the work on Educational Sustainable Development in which I can hopefully provide more details soon.
“As a Students’ Union, we will continue to provide pragmatic solutions and opportunities to the University in regards to fast-tracking work on the strategy with ingenuity and innovation of current commitments.
“I and the officer team are also working on how we as a Students’ Union can build back better from the Covid-19 Pandemic and are reviewing how we can make significant positive changes to our sustainability and operations that will improve student activity. We cannot go back to normal and must seek to build our organisation back not only better but as the best.”
Image: Sheffield Students’ Union
