Environmental Sustainability Strategy Oxford University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy was approved by Council on 15 March 2021. The strategy sets two ambitious targets: to achieve net zero carbon and to achieve biodiversity net gain, both by 2035
The strategy is underpinned by the following four ‘enablers’: • Governance - Embedding environmental sustainability in the University’s governance and decision-making; - The Environmental Sustainability Subcommittee, established in 2021 as a subcommittee of the Planning and Resource Allocation Committee (PRAC), is chaired by Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources) and has representatives from across the University and student body. The Subcommittee holds overall responsibility for environmental sustainability at the University. • Reporting - Developing a system of annual reporting of carbon emissions and biodiversity impact within the first twelve months, which will be published in the University of Oxford’s Annual Review and financial accounts; • Funding - Establishing the Oxford Sustainability Fund, making £200 million available for sustainability initiatives over the next 15 years, to finance the programme of action required to reach net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain by 2035; • Offsetting - Establishing a policy to guide our use of carbon offsetting and biodiversity offsetting.
The strategy focuses on these ten priority areas: • Research - Increase research and engagement in environmental sustainability.
• Curriculum - Offer all students the opportunity to study environmental sustainability, either within or outside the examined curriculum. • Carbon emissions from University buildings - Reduce carbon emissions related to our energy consumption to a minimal level. • Biodiversity - Identify and address the University’s principal biodiversity impacts through its operations and supply chain, and enhance biodiversity on the University’s estate. • Sustainable food - Reduce the carbon emissions and biodiversity impact of our food. • Sustainable resource use - Reduce the environmental impacts of our consumption and supply chain. • International travel - Reduce aviation emissions from University staff and student travel and offset the balance of emissions. • Local travel - Limit transport emissions by reducing the need to travel, encouraging walking, cycling and the use of public transport and managing the demand to travel by car. • Investments - Ensure that the University, as an investor, is part of the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss. • Learning from the pandemic - Build on the experience of the pandemic and the potential shift to more environmentally sustainable working practices.
Visit our Environmental Sustainability Strategy Q&A page for responses to some of the key questions regarding the strategy.
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