LSE to become first carbon neutral University

The London School of Economics (LSE) has announced plans to become the first carbon-neutral university in the UK. 

Currently, the university measures emissions associated with energy use, water consumption, waste generation and business travel.

To achieve carbon neutrality the university will work to reduce its carbon footprint and where this is not possible they will offset residual emissions through the funding of projects elsewhere.

The Sustainability Strategic Plan was created in full consultation through a series of events and workshops with the Student Union, societies and an online survey.

During this consultation, 95% of LSE staff and students said the approach to environmental sustainability was important to them, and 92% said they would be willing to accept changes in their university life to support sustainability.

The plan sets out six key areas of focus to maximise the universities impact, these include:

• Embedding sustainability into the curriculum
• Making sustainability key when seeking funding
•  Appointing a Sustainability Board of LSE students and staff
• Strengthening its Socially Responsible Investment policy
• Mitigating the direct carbon emissions that the university cannot yet avoid
• Working with the community and external organisations to promote sustainability

Professor Nicholas Stern, chair of LSE’s Grantham Institute on Climate Change said: ‘As the world responds to a global pandemic, we cannot forget the climate crisis facing us.

‘Both require urgent action and a truly global response.

‘A sustainable recovery can be both a fast recovery and help lay the foundations for a transformation in economic development. LSE today is making a commitment to action, and we encourage others to engage and lead on this critical agenda: be it organisations, academics, students and citizens of the world.’

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