Decrease your climate impact
Uppsala University's goal is to decrease its climate impact by 50% until 2030. The University also aims to be climate neutral by 2045. In order to succeed, both staff and students need to contribute in many different ways.
Examples of how to reduce our climate impact at the University
Travelling
- Choose your trips carefully – choose virtual meetings when possible
- If you are travelling far, take the train and cut back on flying
- If you are travelling locally, walk, cycle or take public transport
Purchasing and reusing
- Reduce the number of purchases you make – reuse items
- Use products as long as possible, in particular mobile phones, computers and other IT equipment
- Turn off lights and equipment that are not in use
- When purchasing new items, make environmentally conscious decisions
Waste
- Reduce food waste
- Separate your waste, so the material can be turned into new products, biofuel or energy
In general
- Pass on knowledge about the environment and sustainability
- Take inspiration from various Climate Pot projects at the University
Did you know...
... that by turning off your camera during digital meetings you will release 96 % less greenhouse gases compared to if your camera were to be in use.
Climate inventory of Uppsala University
The University has conducted an inventory of the University’s climate footprint. The purpose of this inventory was to learn about total emissions and to estimate the breakdown of emissions between different parts of the organisation and its activities.
In 2019, the University’s activities caused emissions equivalent to just over 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which corresponds to approximately 8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per full-time employee. The largest sources of emissions were business travel (36%), properties (33%) and purchases of goods (19%). With the result at hand, it becomes easier to focus on target areas. The findings of the climate inventory have consequently been used in efforts to reduce the University’s climate impact and ecological footprint.
Many steps can be taken to reduce the University’s environmental and climate impact. While some measures are related so societal and structural change, some of these measures are things that everyone can do.
