New climate plan in 2025–2027

The green transition is a key focus area for SDU. This can be seen in the University’s research, education, innovation, dissemination and, not least, in its collaboration with businesses and public institutions and authorities.

But the green transition also includes operations at SDU, which is why SDU must continue to focus on reducing the University’s greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years and set a good example for the surrounding society.

The University’s work with the green transition is particularly evident in its climate plans, which are decided for three years at a time. The first climate plan (1.0) was initiated in 2022 and will be finalised at the end of 2024, which is why SDU’s management has adopted a new climate plan (2.0) for 2025–2027.

The initiatives in the climate plans are divided into scopes and follow an international standard for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it easier to understand where the emissions come from and which areas require the most attention – and following the standard allows SDU to compare its results with other universities and organisations.

The following scopes are included in the climate plans and climate accounts:

• Scope 1 is the direct emissions, such as fossil fuels from SDU’s own cars.
• Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from energy consumption, such as electricity, district heating or cooling,
• Scope 3 is the broadest category of emissions and covers activities beyond our direct control, such as purchasing goods and services and air travel.

A more ambitious plan

The ambition for Climate Plan 1.0 was to reduce the University’s emissions by 57 per cent by 2030 compared to emissions in 2018. The 57 per cent corresponds to a 70 per cent reduction of emissions in 1990, an ambition that is in line with the national target in Denmark. The ambition included Scope 1, Scope 2 and air travel in Scope 3.

The new Climate Plan 2.0 has higher ambitions. The goal is now to completely avoid CO₂ emissions in Scope 1 and Scope 2, whereas the targets in Scope 3 are different – for instance, 57 per cent reduction compared to 2018 for business travel and 15 per cent for procurement of goods and services.

The difference between the two climate plans lies in both the level of ambition and the focus areas. The first one was about creating an overview of SDU’s total carbon footprint, gathering knowledge and taking the first steps towards a reduction. The attention was focused on a number of practical solutions such as energy saving and travel policy, behaviour and waste management, establishing climate panels and ambassador networks.

Climate Plan 2.0 builds on the first one, but on the basis of more precise data and knowledge about where SDU’s CO₂ emission levels are highest, it sets clear goals to become CO₂ neutral.

The ambition of neutrality in Scope 1 and Scope 2 has determined which projects will be initiated. As a result, in 2025–2027, the focus will be on making SDU’s entire car fleet electric (Scope 1) and on achieving even better energy and heat efficiency in the University’s buildings (Scope 2). In Scope 3, efforts will be aimed at sustainable and circular resource consumption.

Climate Plan 2.0 will also be dynamic. New initiatives may be added during the period 2025–2027 as SDU gains access to new data and knowledge about the potential of the initiatives. Staff and students can propose new initiatives that will be assessed based on their contribution to reducing SDU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Initiatives that indirectly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions may also be implemented, including behavioural projects, such as green commuting.

Thank you for your great effort

University Director Thomas Buchvald Vind is pleased that SDU maintains a high level of ambition in its work with sustainability and the green transition.

– Climate Plan 1.0 has pointed us in the right direction and has created the conditions for us to raise the level of ambition in Climate Plan 2.0, he says and continues:

– In particular, I would like to emphasise the many dedicated employees who have been and are involved in the Green Lab, which has demonstrated innovative green solutions in the University’s laboratories. We have decided to continue with the Green Lab and to extend the Green Lab to all SDU laboratories – not as a special project, but as an important part of the University’s basic operations.

Thomas Buchvald Vind also thanks SDU’s many climate ambassadors:

– They have been passionately and enthusiastically promoting the green agenda among their colleagues across the University. The Climate Ambassador Network will also continue. And now I hope that all employees will also embrace Climate Plan 2.0 and help realise its ambitions.

Climate Plan 1.0 will be evaluated in the first months of 2025 and a report will be available in April. Articles about the results, learning points, challenges and adjustments in relation to Climate Plan 2.0 will be available on SDUnet in the same month.