NTU contributes to Platinum Jubilee Challenge report helping educational institutions achieve Net Zero Carbon
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was invited to contribute to a key report commissioned as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to accelerate the higher and further education sector’s path to Net Zero Carbon.
The report, ‘Accelerating towards Net Zero’ uses detailed analysis to highlight target areas for higher and further education institutions to report and reduce carbon emissions. The report was commissioned by the Royal Anniversary Trust as part of The Platinum Jubilee Challenge - where leading UK universities and further education colleges were invited to work together to tackle pressing contemporary issues.
As the recipient of a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2021 - the highest national Honour awarded in UK further and higher education - NTU was invited to contribute to the report, specifically looking at solutions to reduce carbon emissions within within HE and FE supply chains. NTU’s Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool was highlighted in the report as an example of best practice as it helps suppliers to quantify and act on their emissions.
Data from the Tool supports suppliers with understanding and reducing their carbon footprint, including the generation of an action plan to set out project recommendations.
Overall, the report has 14 clear recommendations to Government and priorities for the sector that will accelerate progress towards Net Zero. Minsters have committed to responding to the report by 28th March 2023.
The two recommendations in the report regarding supply chain were the consolidation of existing sector reporting requirements to a single online portal, and the incorporation of carbon reporting modules within the government’s ‘Help to Grow’ scheme to boost carbon literacy among SMEs.
Charmaine Morrell, Head of Sustainability at Nottingham Trent University, said: “It was a pleasure to work with other education partners across the sector on the Platinum Jubilee Challenge, collaborating to address the challenges and opportunities of reaching Net Zero Carbon in the tertiary education sector. We are particularly proud of NTU’s contribution to the work carried out on tackling carbon emissions associated with supply chains, an area that often forms the greatest part of an institution’s carbon footprint.
“We have our own ambitious target to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2040, and are committed to embedding both social and environmental responsibility into all areas of the University. From protecting and enhancing biodiversity on our campuses, to improving sustainable transport options and engaging extensively with both colleagues and students, we are committed to achieving our core ‘Embracing Sustainability’ strategy.
NTU is a sector leader in sustainability and was recently ranked 2nd in the 2022 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings for environmental sustainability.