SDU’s Climate Plan 2.0 on the way

Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced globally and locally, and SDU contributes to the sustainable transition of society through research, education, innovation and daily operations. And this year, SDU will complete its first climate plan for the period 2022–2024 (Climate Plan 1.0), the ambition of which is for the University to reduce its CO2 emissions by 57 per cent by 2030 compared to 2018.

The objective of a 57 per cent reduction compared to 2018 corresponds to Denmark’s national target of a 70 per cent reduction compared to 1990.

A more ambitious plan – climate neutrality by 2030

Since Climate Plan 1.0 was drawn up in the autumn of 2021, SDU has gathered data and knowledge that, together with technological advances, make it possible for the University’s next Climate Plan 2.0 for the period 2025–2027 to be more ambitious. The new climate plan will focus on reducing emissions by reducing consumption and making necessary consumption more sustainable and circular.

SDU uses an internationally recognised standard (the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) to measure the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. The emissions are categorised into three so-called scopes.

The first two scopes are direct emissions from, for instance, fuel in SDU cars and indirect emissions from the consumption of electricity, district heating and district cooling.

Fleet of electric cars

During the period, SDU will establish a shared fleet of electric cars, which will reduce direct emissions from fuel significantly. And SDU expects indirect emissions from consumption of electricity, district heating and district cooling to decrease by 90 per cent by 2030 due to the development of green energy in Denmark.

This forecast makes the ambition of carbon neutrality by 2030 possible, but investments in climate initiatives will still be needed to reduce emissions by the remaining 10 per cent.

The ambition to achieve climate neutrality applies to scopes 1 and 2.

Climate Plan 2.0 – the difficult task

Scope 3 covers work-related trips, purchase of goods and services, water and fuel, waste and electricity-related activities that emit greenhouse gases on other locations than SDU. These emissions can be difficult to measure and are by far the largest item in SDU’s climate accounts, accounting for 90 per cent of the University’s total emissions in 2023 (38,366 tonnes of CO2e).

In Climate Plan 2.0, the objectives will vary in scope 3. Emissions from work-related trips must be reduced by 57 per cent compared to 2018, which is the same objective as in Climate Plan 1.0. SDU employees are flying less now than before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still requires an effort to meet the goal of a 57 per cent reduction by 2030.

For the other categories in scope 3, the working hypothesis is a reduction of 15 per cent compared to 2018. But the hypothesis must be qualified, and we do this by developing concrete initiatives. Some of the measures include limiting the purchase of goods and services by increasing circular consumption and promoting climate-friendly behaviour at the University.

This will be accompanied by increased external research funding, which is expected to increase the acquisition of goods and equipment, for example for laboratories. But experiences from the Green Lab initiative and the waste sorting in Climate Plan 1.0 show that increasingly sustainable consumption also stems from behavioural changes and new habits.

Climate Plan 2.0 to be approved in December

- We face the substantial task of transforming the University, reducing our climate footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future in the coming years, says University Director Thomas Buchvald Vind, continuing:

- We want to be ambitious in this field and generate movement and positive change. That’s why I’m also pleased that the Board has decided to set more ambitious goals in the University’s new climate plan compared to the first one. And our chances of reaching our 2030 goals will increase as SDU continuously improves its climate accounts by using specific data, differentiating goals and requesting data from suppliers. There is no doubt that we will take another step in the right direction with the new climate plan.

The Rectorate will now initiate the process of formulating specific initiatives that can be included in Climate Plan 2.0 for the period 2025–2027 and support the University in achieving its climate goals. The Board is expected to approve Climate Plan 2.0 in December.