Uppsala Climate Protocol
The University is part of the Uppsala Climate Protocol (UCP) since 2011. It is an environmental network that was founded thanks to an initiative by the City of Uppsala in 2010. Today UCP consists of around 40 organisations based in the city.
The UCP was inspired by the UN's work on its climate convention and acts as a local Paris Agreement to this day. The ambition for the UCP is to take the lead in climate work and to be a model for other cities.
Membership and commitment
In order to be part of UCP members need to take on climate challenges. These goals are to be met in 2030 at the latest.
The University has chosen the following challenges for 2024-2027:
Energy
Increase energy efficiency with 30 procent
The climate challenge includes all consumed energy, not only bought energy. Please note that the challenge has the year 2020 as baseline.
Status: The University does follow-ups on energy consumption in two data sets; total elecetricity consumption and district heating/cooling. Both data sets are measured in kWh per square metre. In 2024 the electricity consumption decreased by 2,5 percent (kWh/m2) and the use of district heating and cooling decreased by 13 percent (kWh/m2).
More info at the Uppsala Climate Protocol (in Swedish)
Less plastic waste to energy recovery
The climate challenge is aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from the district heating system in Uppsala. In order to do so, plastic waste needs to decrease significantly. The challenge also has a focus on reducing and preventing the use of plastic where possible.
Status: Work is in progress in both reducing the inflow of fossil plastics by applying environmental criteria in procurement and by increasing the recycling rate and correct handling of waste with extra signage. More recycling possibilities at campus also lessen the incorrect outflows of plastics.
Transport
100 percent fossil-free procured transports by 2030
The climate challenge includes all bought and procured transport services that the University uses, as long as transport is deemed a considerate part of the procurement as a whole. By 2025, 75 percent of procured transports should be fossil-free.
Status: Environmental criteria are applied in transport heavy procurements. In 2025 the use of environmental criteria targeting transport services resulted in 50-100 percent fossil-free procured transports.
Workplace
Decreased climate impact from business travels
- Decrease greenhouse gas emissions from domestic business travel by 90 percent until 2025, compared to 2019 per full-time equivalent.
- Decrease greenhouse gas emissions from international business travel by 50 percent until 2025, and by 75 percent until 2030, compared to 2019 per full-time equivalent.
Status: Domestic business travel has seen an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by five percent per full-time equivalent from 2019 to 2024. International business travel has seen a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent per full-time equivalent during the same time frame.
More info at the Uppsala Climate Protocol (in Swedish)
Decreased climate impact from and increased circularity in handling of IT products
- Map the climate impact from the purchase of new IT products per user, at latest in 2025. When the mapping is completed, goals for a decreased climate impact are to be set.
- In 2027 there should be a 100 percent take-back in IT products. After that, the goal is to be as close to 100 percent take-back until 2030.
Status: The mapping of new IT products was completed in 2025. New IT products resulted in green house gas emissions equivalent to 1044 ton CO2e, which means 137 kg CO2e per employee. The next step is to set a goal for a decreased climate impact and to set a method for the follow-up on take-back of IT products.
More info at the Uppsala Climate Protocol (in Swedish)
Climate improved workplace
The climate challenge stipulates that the University needs to take action to reduce emissions from the workplace or staff. At least one actitvity needs to be completed each year.
Status: The University has worked to promote circular activities between staff and within the University in 2025. Thanks to this Återbruksforum (Forum for reuse) has gained more members and made it possible to reuse e.g. furniture between departments.