1. University
of
Gothenburg
Climate
strategy
2010-­‐2015
A
success
story
on
climate
change
mi=ga=on
through
transboundary
collabora=on
in
a
complex
academic
environment
1
Eddi
Omrcen,
Environmental
manager

2. ISCN conference, Singapore NUS, 2013-06-18
8
facul=es
–
38
departments
•
The
Sahlgrenska
Academy
–
pharmacy,
medicine,
odontology
and
health
care
sciences
•
The
Faculty
of
Science
•
The
Faculty
of
Arts
•
The
Faculty
of
Fine,
Applied
and
Performing
Arts
•
The
Faculty
of
Social
Sciences
•
School
of
Business,
Economics
and
Law
•
The
Faculty
of
Educa=on
•
The
IT
Faculty
• 37,000
students,
25,600
full-­‐=me
students
•
237
educa=onal
programmes
•
1,956
courses
• 5,760
employees
• 381,000
square
meters
building
area
• 630
million
Euro
total
income/revenue
Gothenburg
University
of
Gothenburg

3. Background
”Sustainable
development
is
important
to
us;
we
always
consider
the
long-­‐term
social,
economic
and
ecological
consequences
and
allow
them
to
guide
our
opera;ons.”
University
of
Gothenburg,
Vision
2020
By
the
fall
of
2009,
the
Vice-­‐Chancellor
of
the
University
of
Gothenburg
assigned
the
environmental
manager
to
develop
a
Climate
strategy.
The
University
is
both
EMAS
registered
and
cer=fied
in
accordance
with
ISO
14001.
With
it´s
well-­‐established
Environmental
Management
System
(EMS),
the
University
is
in
an
excellent
posi=on
to
implement
a
Climate
strategy
and
carry
out
systema=c
monitoring
of
this.
By
having
an
ambi=ous
objec=ve,
the
University
of
Gothenburg
is
able
to
take
responsibility,
set
an
interna=onal
example
and
demonstrate
that
it
takes
the
climate
issue
extremely
seriously.
3

4. Organiza=onal
structure
-­‐
Opera=ons
The
Environmental
Unit
plays
a
key
role
in
planning,
coordina=ng,
facilita=ng
and
monitoring
climate
ac=on.
The
Universitys’
well
established
EMS
enables
a
goal-­‐oriented
and
systema=c
approach
to
achieve
the
ambi=ons
set
forth
in
the
Climate
strategy.
The
yearly
results
serves
as
a
base
for
future
priori=es.
The
EMS
also
facilitates
the
management
engagement
necessary
to
implement
the
ambi=ons
outlined
in
the
Climate
strategy.
4

5. Organiza=onal
structure
–
Scien=fic
guidance
In
order
to
win
support
for
the
strategy
and
to
drive
its
implementa=on
forward,
the
University
has
formed
an
internal
Climate
CommiCee
consis=ng
of
eminent
researchers
within
the
climate
field.
The
task
of
the
Climate
Commi^ee
is
to
provide
guidance
and
opinions
on
the
university’s
climate-­‐related
work,
and
to
assess
the
measures
described
in
the
strategy.
At
the
University
of
Gothenburg,
this
is
a
unique
way
of
gathering
knowledge
produced
within
the
university
for
applica=on
on
it’s
own
opera=ons.
5
Merri%
Polk,
senior
lecturer
in
Human
Ecology
and
member
of
the
Climate
CommiFee.
Thomas
Sterner,
professor
in
Environmental
Economics,
lead
author
in
the
Interna;onal
Panel
on
Climate
Change
and
member
of
the
Climate
CommiFee.

6. Objec=ve
and
ac=on
areas
This
is
being
achieved
mainly
through:
• energy
efficiency
measures,
and
by
• adap=ng
business
travel
in
line
with
clima=c
and
environmental
considera=ons.
Areas
with
an
indirect
posi=ve
or
nega=ve
impact
on
the
climate
have
also
been
iden=fied
to
reinforce
the
University
of
Gothenburg’s
climate-­‐related
efforts:
Research
and
educa8on,
Coopera8on
and
communica8on,
Coordina8ng
purchasing
and
transport,
Computer
use,
and
Food.
Carbon
off-­‐sebng
is
made
for
all
climate
affec=ng
emissions
from
air-­‐travel,
without
it
being
calculated
for
in
the
objec=ve
follow-­‐up.
The
target
fulfillment
is
monitored
through
emissions
from
travel
and
energy
consump=on.
The
target
is
set
in
absolute
figures,
giving
that
when
the
university
grows
in
revenues,
students
and
staff,
it
does
not
affect
the
target.
6
The
main
objec8ve
is
to
reduce
total
carbon
dioxide
emissions
by
the
year
2015
by
at
least
20
percent
compared
with
2008
levels.
The
University
of
Gothenburg
also
aims
to
reduce
total
energy
usage
by
10
per
cent
for
the
same
period.

7. Achievement
By
the
end
of
2013
the
target
was
almost
reached
with
a
reduc=on
of
total
carbon
emissions
by
19
per
cent
as
compared
to
the
baseline
year
2008.
Total
energy
use
is
reduced
by
15
per
cent,
excessing
the
10
per
cent
goal.
For
2013
as
compared
to
2012,
energy
usage
was
reduced
by
7
per
cent
giving
economic
savings
equivalent
to
430
000
euros
or
almost
600
000
US
dollars,
and
a
reduc=on
of
carbon
dioxide
emissions
by
3
per
cent.
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Total
carbon
dioxide
emissions
(tonnes)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Average
energy
consump=on
(kWh/m2)
District
hea=ng
Electricity
7

8. Challenges
overcome:
Conflic=ng
objec=ves
Increased
interna=onaliza=on
is
an
important
objec=ve
for
the
University
of
Gothenburg.
In
conjunc=on
with
increasingly
interna=onalized
research
and
educa=on,
reducing
greenhouse
gas
emissions
from
air
travel
is
a
challenge.
To
meet
this
challenge,
a
policy
for
travel
and
mee=ngs
was
adopted,
requiring
special
approval
for
air-­‐travel
under
500
kilometres.
The
University
of
Gothenburg
is
at
the
forefront
in
technical
solu=ons
and
support
for
travel-­‐free
mee=ngs.
Infrastructure,
training
and
informa=on
is
increasing
the
use
of
technology
for
travel
free
mee=ngs.
8
Electricity,
7%
Boat,
5%
Fossil
energy,
0%
District
hea=ng,
27%
Car,
train,
bus,
3%
Flights
under
500
km,
6%
Flights
over
500
km,
52%
Carbon
dioxide
emissions
2013
In
order
to
reduce
the
amount
of
emissions
from
air
travel,
and
s;ll
be
an
interna;onally
successful
University,
an
important
part
of
the
Climate
strategy
is
to
make
travel
free
mee;ngs
a
realis;c
and
well
func;oning
alterna;ve
to
air
travel.

9. Challenges
overcome:
Not
owning
facili=es,
no
campus
Swedish
universi=es
are
according
to
legisla=on
not
able
to
buy
or
own
real
estate.
The
university
hires
thus
all
facili=es
from
public
and
private
corpora=ons
on
contracts
on
up
to
a
maximum
of
10
years,
which
imposes
a
great
challenge
in
terms
of
crea=ng
incen=ves
for
energy
savings.
We
don´t
have
a
physical
campus
area,
we
are
a
mul=-­‐site
city
university
integrated
within
the
city
of
Gothenburg.
In
order
to
reduce
climate
impact,
sustainability
aspects
has
been
integrated
into
the
University
policy
for
new
construc=on
and
refurbishment.
A
sustainability
group
with
representa=ves
from
the
University
Environmental
Unit,
Communica=on
Unit
and
Property
Unit
is
appointed
with
the
mandate
to
ensure
that
sustainability
issues
are
included
and
followed
up
in
major
new
construc=on
and
renova=on
work
planned
at
the
University
of
Gothenburg.
Naturally,
this
also
implies
an
in-­‐depth
collabora=on
with
the
property
owners.
9

10. Good
examples
1.
Students
commi^ed
to
climate
The
student
ini=a=ve
Fossil
Free
University
of
Gothenburg
argue
that
certain
investments
support
fossil
energy
produc=on
that
is
immoral
and
financially
short
termed,
and
campaigns
for
divestment.
Sahlgrenska
Academy
Students
for
Sustainability
(SASS)
and
Handels
Students
for
Sustainability
(HaSS)
ac=vely
promotes
engagement
in
and
dispersion
of
knowledge
about
sustainable
development.
SASS
also
promotes
‘meat-­‐free
Mondays’
at
the
University’s
cafés
and
restaurants.
The
Environmental
Unit
supports
student
groups
with
premises
and
networking.
Representa;ves
from
Fossil
free
University
of
Gothenburg
handing
over
the
signatories
for
the
campaign
to
Pam
Fredman,
Vice-­‐Chancellor.
10

11. 2.
Good
examples
Climate
seminars
The
University
gives
a
series
of
interdisciplinary
climate
seminars,
aiming
to
highlight
the
importance
of
research
for
in
dealing
with
climate
change.
Approximately
five
seminars
has
been
held
each
year,
of
wich
some
examples
can
be
seen
below:
Video:
COP
17
in
Durban
–
What
can
we
expect
this
=me?
Video:
The
human
mindset
and
rela=on
to
the
earth
and
the
climate
change.
Video:
Globaliza=on
–
A
driving
force
or
an
obstacle
11

12. 3.
Good
examples
A
part
of
the
city
Together
with
the
city
of
Gothenburg
and
Sahlgrenska
university
hospital,
the
University
is
sebng
up
a
“Green
I=nerary”
for
a
well
visited
University
area
situated
in
the
city,
“Campus
Medicinareberget”,
aiming
to
develop
an
easy
accessible
campus
without
increasing
motor
traffic.
The
project
is
focusing
on
improved
access
for
bikes
and
pedestrians
as
well
as
more
frequent
public
transports.
12

13. 4.
Good
examles
Climate
off-­‐sebng
through
Gold
Standard
CDM
In
line
with
the
University’s
vision
of
increased
interna=onaliza=on,
carbon
dioxide
emissions
from
travel
has
increased
by
11
per
cent
since
2008.
In
order
to
balance
these
emissions,
carbon
offsebng
is
applied
by
inves=ng
in
a
Gold
Standard
Clean
Development
Mechanism
(CDM)
project.
Carbon
offsebng
is
viewed
as
secondary
to
energy
efficiency
measures
and
sustainable
travelling.
An
internal
climate
fund,
financed
by
part
from
climate
off-­‐sebng
fees,
is
being
planned.
All
University
staff
and
students
will
be
able
to
apply
for
funding
of
a
project
that
helps
reducing
the
Universitys’
carbon
footprint.
13
Part
of
the
climate-­‐offsePng
investments
is
made
in
the
biomass
power
plant
Sri
Balaji
in
the
Indian
state
of
Andhra
Pradesh,
a
Gold
Standard
CDM-­‐project.

14. 5.
Good
examples
Cubng
energy
at
the
Laboratory
for
Experimental
Biomedicine
(EBM)
In
a
joint
project,
the
Sahlgrenska
Academy
and
the
property
owner
Akademiska
Hus,
carried
out
several
major
energy
efficiency
measures.
This
reduced
the
energy
consump=on
at
EBM
by
26
percent
in
between
2009
and
2013.
By
reducing
the
use
of
fossil
natural
gas,
carbon
dioxide
emissions
from
EBM
was
reduced
by
over
900
tonnes
to
almost
zero.
Won
the
ISCN
award
2013
”Excellence
in
buildings”
14

15. 6.
Good
examples
An
emerging
living
laboratory
Students
at
the
School
of
Business,
Economics
and
Law
was
assigned
to
count
on
profitability
and
environmental
benefits
of
installing
a
solar
PV
system
on
the
school
roof
in
order
to
provide
recommenda=ons
to
whether,
and
under
what
condi=ons,
the
school
should
agree
to
such
an
investment.
The
assignment
was
carried
out
in
collabora=on
with
Akademiska
hus
who
is
now
proceeding
with
a
proposal
for
actual
installa=on.
The
concept
be
will
used
in
several
facul=es
across
the
University
in
order
to
implement
energy
efficiency
measures
that
have
been
iden=fied
in
a
joint
energy
savings
project
with
another
property
owner,
Higab.
15

16. A
unique
approach
The
Climate
strategy
is
unique
at
the
University
of
Gothenburg
as
it
is
a
university-­‐wide
strategy,
including
faculty,
administra=on
and
management.
With
the
support
of
it’s
EMS,
the
University
of
Gothenburg
manages
climate
ac=on
with
a
systema=c
approach,
both
in
implementa=on
and
follow-­‐up.
The
Climate
strategy
is
comprehensive,
including
all
three
ISCN
charter
principles:
buildings,
campus
planning
and
integra=ng
research
and
educa=on.
It
also
includes
student
commitment.
16

17. Learning
outcomes
The
University
of
Gothenburg’s
Climate
strategy
shows
that
it
is
possible
for
mul=-­‐site
city
universi=es,
not
in
possession
of
the
buildings
in
which
they
operate,
to
address
climate
impact
across
all
areas
in
an
effec=ve
manner.
It
is
achieved
through
collabora=on
across
the
University,
between
facul=es
and
with
external
stakeholders
such
as
property
owners.
This
creates
opportuni=es
for
technical
solu=ons
and
social
learning
processes,
and
allows
the
University
of
Gothenburg
to
serve
as
a
living
laboratory
for
sustainable
development.
17

18. The
future
The
objec=ve
of
reducing
carbon
dioxide
emissions
is
expected
to
be
fullfilled
by
2015,
and
the
University
has
it’s
sights
set
at
taking
the
next
step.
Climate
strategy
2.0
is
set
to
enter
into
force
by
january
2016.
During
fall
2014,
a
series
of
workshops
will
be
held
in
order
to
outline
the
poten=al
for
further
reducing
climate
impact.
Students,
staff,
researchers
and
the
surrounding
society
will
be
involved
in
the
process.
18

19. Thank
you
for
your
a^en=on
!
Information:
www.sustainabilityreport.gu.se
ISCN Award winner
Excellence in Buildings
Singapore June 2013