Carbon Management Strategy

Developing carbon management strategies for HE institutions with extensive landholdings

Project Summary

The project aims to provide leadership to institutions with extensive landholdings (including farmed land) to enable them to (i) measure greenhouse gas emissions arising from agricultural activities in their educational estate, (ii) establish realistic carbon equivalent reduction targets and (iii) develop informed carbon management plans. This will be achieved through sector specific workshops, and ensuing support and advice provision and an open seminar. A concluding report will set out standardised methodologies and carbon footprinting best practice for landholdings. A second report will be produced to provide guidance to institutions with land occupied by tenant farmers: in how they can work with tenant farmers to reduce carbon emissions.

Project Scope

The proposed project will focus on providing leadership and guidance to those institutions with extensive landholdings (including farmed land) regarding the development of their carbon management strategies. Such landholdings may be farmed either directly, or may be off-campus and tenanted. However, as landowner, the institution will have some degree of corporate social responsibility for the carbon footprint of these assets. Sector specific workshops (one day in duration) will be delivered at each partner institution with the aims of ensuring:

• A standard approach to assessing scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon equivalent emissions is achieved amongst institutions with extensive landholdings.
• Institutions develop SMART carbon reduction targets for scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
• Institutions acquire the expertise to measure, monitor and compare their carbon emissions.
• Institutions possess the knowledge to develop carbon management plans to ensure actions identified to reduce carbon emissions are appropriately prioritised and implemented, and that carbon reduction targets are met.

Following the workshops, the project team will provide advice and guidance to institutions in assessing the carbon footprint of their landholdings, in establishing feasible carbon reduction targets and in developing carbon management plans. This will enable institutions to gain unbiased and independent advice when needed and for the full benefits of the project to be identified. Pump priming funding (£10,000) will be available for a small number of institutions to commence addressing the carbon footprint of their landholdings.

Documents

• Guidance notes for HEIs
• Evaluation of methodologies
• Evaluation Report

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project is provided by HEFCE's Leadership, Management and Governance Fund.