The University of Manchester has been awarded the International Green Gown Award in recognition of its targeted decarbonisation efforts.
The award highlights the University’s initiative of ‘Zero Carbon Without a Net’ as part of the Environmental Sustainability strategy launched in July 2022.
The initiative aims for zero direct carbon emissions by 2038 through embedding sustainable practices into all plans, policies, and processes.
These practises include,
- promoting active travel
- supporting the development of research projects through the Living lab
- enabling a sustainable future platform to guide research
- applying the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) that lists criteria to improve the sustainability and efficiency of research and teaching laboratory spaces.
Progress made in achieving these aims includes:
- A landmark deal signed in May 2024, ensuring up to 65% of the University’s electricity demand will be supplied through a new renewable energy project.
- The newly refurbished Nancy Rothwell building has been equipped with infrastructure to support zero emissions.
- An additional £25 million has been pledged towards these goals, bringing the total zero-carbon budget to £175 million.
Julia Durkan, Head of Environmental Sustainability said: “We are incredibly delighted to be recognised internationally for our decarbonisation plans, which are firmly grounded in science, with our zero-carbon target set in collaboration with experts from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
This award not only acknowledges our ambitious plans but also celebrates the collective efforts of our colleagues who have made this initiative a reality. We’re proud to be part of the international effort to tackle climate change, and we know achieving these goals requires continuous, urgent action and global collaboration”.
The award featured 95 finalists across 28 countries, with the University of Manchester placed first in the ‘2030 Climate Action’ category.
This category focuses on steps that higher education institutions are taking or planning to take to achieve their sustainability agendas.
This award follows the University winning the top prize at the Green Gown Awards in 2023, which celebrated projects in sustainability across the further and higher education sectors.
