Climate Plan Update:

December 2023 to February 2024

The University of Leeds Climate Plan sets out how we will support climate change mitigation and adaptation up to 2030, while also contributing to a healthier, greener and fairer place to live, work and study. 

This quarterly update sets out the progress made from December 2023 to February 2024 towards the climate principle ‘Delivering Net Zero by 2030’.

Progress on all seven principles will be reported annually in the Climate Plan progress report. Regular updates to our University community will be available throughout the year through the Climate Plan Sharepoint hub, alongide key updates on the University website.

This is the eighth report to update the University community on progress made since the Climate Plan and Pathway to Net Zero was approved by our Council in November 2021. See our previous reports on our Climate Plan reporting page.

For further information on our Climate Plan, visit our Climate Plan Spotlight article, which links to our Pathway to Net Zero Emissions report.

Work completed so far:

• Published the Net Zero Delivery Plan to the University community, supported by an in person event.
• Commenced exploratory drilling for geothermal energy on campus.
• Brought forward the delivery of the decarbonisation of the Brownlee Centre using air source heat pumps to deliver earlier emissions reductions.
• Supported energy saving communications and engagement activity around the Sustainable Labs programme and the Christmas shutdown period.
• Commenced a pilot project to better measure supply chain emissions as part of Net Zero Plus workstream. This is planned to complete in autumn 2024.
• Completed the Net Zero Annual Report for review by the Research Partnership Committee as part of their Annual Review of the Climate Plan.

Upcoming plans

• Continue exploratory drilling for geothermal energy on campus - report expected summer 2024.
• Finalise a tender for significant investment in renewable energy generation away from our campus.
• Formally request quote from Northern Power Grid for the additional electricity capacity required to deliver Net Zero.
• Commence the next stage of detailed design (RIBA workstage 3) on the Worsley and Engineering Cluster projects as part of our phase 1 delivery of the Net Zero Delivery Plan.
• Support additional energy saving communications around the Easter shutdown period.
• Commence recruitment for a Balancing Emissions Coordinator to help develop the University’s strategy on offsetting.

University greenhouse gas emissions

To account for the time required to receive validated energy use data, this update reports on Scope 1 and 2 emissions for August to October 2023, excluding vehicles, agricultural emissions and the escape of greenhouse gases from air conditioning units.

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, such as natural gas used in our boilers. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions, generated from purchased energy.

Figures represent tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Previous year (2022/23): 13,341 tCO2e.

This year (2023/24): 13,498 tCO2e.

Difference: 1% increase.