Positive Climate

An Institution-wide approach

UCL initially focused on reducing scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, resulting in a reduction of 33% since 2010. UCL is now working hard on reducing carbon emissions across the whole university, including all our direct and indirect impacts (scope 1, 2 and 3).

What does this include?

Scope 1

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions produced by UCL using gas, fuel, refrigerants, and VOCs. These fuels are used to generate heating and hot water for over 200 buildings and for some experiments within our research facilities. 

They total 22,683 tonnes of CO2e in 2021-22.

*CO2e is a measurement for all greenhouse gases including methane, nitrous oxide, and others contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Scope 2

Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from electricity that we purchase to power our equipment such as our lighting, computers, and scientific equipment and to provide cooling and ventilation.

They total 22,989 tonnes of CO2e in 2021-22.  

*CO2e is a measurement for all greenhouse gases including methane, nitrous oxide, and others contributing to the greenhouse effect and global heating.

Scope 3

Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions from everything else the university does, like all the things we purchase from tables and chairs, to research equipment, as well as from the waste we produce, travel, commuting, investments and water consumed.

Scope 3 emissions are the trickiest emissions to measure, as we rely on our suppliers for data. We have partnered with a company specialising in measuring scope 3 emissions to improve our data with a particular focus on emissions from products and services. Our existing scope 3 data for 2021/22 is in development but indictates that emissions from water and waste are 327 tCO2e and emissions from business travel are 8,170 tCO2e.

*CO2e is a measurement for all greenhouse gases including methane, nitrous oxide, and others contributing to the greenhouse effect and global heating.

Reducing carbon at UCL

The UCL Sustainability Plan 2025-2035 sets out UCL’s approach to reducing carbon. We have committed to net zero carbon emissions (scopes 1 & 2 CO2e) by 2030, requiring at least an 80% reduction in absolute emissions from a 2018-19 baseline, and net zero emissions for all scopes by 2040. 

Overall responsibility for delivering on UCL’s carbon management activity resides with the Assistant Director for Sustainability and in 2023/24 a budget of £1.9m has been allocated for delivery.

Our carbon reduction programme is overseen by the UCL Energy Management Working Group, which reports to UCL Sustainability Committee and ultimately to UCL Council. Progress on our carbon management activity is reported publicly via the Sustainable UCL Annual Report. 

Using insight from our research is at the heart of our carbon reduction. Learn about our new Grand Challenge on Climate linking academic research with carbon reduction on campus. 

> Grand Challenge on Climate

Sustainability Bond

> UCL Sustainability Bond

Carbon Data for your building

> Access Fabriq