Context

To realise our climate goals, it is essential to understand the broader context - including our targets, responsibilities and the frameworks guiding us to net zero.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero Targets

In January 2020 we formalised our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by signing the global higher education sector’s SDG Accord in partnership with the Liverpool Guild of Students. In signing the SDG Accord, pledged to put the UN SDGs – including SDG 13 ‘Climate Action’ - at the heart of all our activities. The following year we issued a joint declaration on the climate and ecological crises in conjunction with campus Trade Unions and the Liverpool Guild of Students, reinforcing the University’s commitment to addressing climate change and harm to nature. 

Locally, Liverpool City Council has an ambitious target to reach net zero by 2030 focusing on buildings, energy, transport and waste. Under the leadership of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has set a target to become net zero carbon by 2040 or sooner. The University’s Sustainability Strategy 2031 sets a success measure to achieve a transition to Net Zero in scopes 1 and 2, in line with the University’s Strategic Framework Liverpool 2031 and with similar targets across the wider Higher Education sector. Our target for scope 3 emissions is 2050, in line with the UK government’s binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Additional success measures for sustainability are set out in the University’s strategic plan, Liverpool 2031, and the Sustainability Strategy.

‘Net Zero’ and Carbon Scopes

Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. We reach net zero when the amount we add is no more than the amount taken away. Greenhouse gas emissions are categorised into three groups or 'scopes' by the most widely used international accounting tool, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol:

· Scope 1: The direct emissions from the sources we control and own, such as from heating sources (gas boilers and CHP generators) or vehicle fleet emissions.

· Scope 2: The power we purchase (e.g. electricity from National Grid) such as to light buildings.

· Scope 3: The emissions associated with the wide range of activities we engage in, including staff and student commuter travel, business travel, waste, water, and the goods and services we procure.

Reporting our Emissions

The University uses the sector-specific Standardised Carbon Emissions Framework (SCEF) and the HESA Estates Management Return (EMR) to report on its carbon emissions. These frameworks also enable us to track our methodologies and data capture to make continuous improvements in the quality of our carbon accounting.

The SCEF is used to track our scope 1 and 2 emissions, and scope 3 emissions, separately. The reporting period for the SCEF will align with the financial reporting year 31st July– 1st August. These are reported in the University’s Annual Financial Statements.

Appendix 1 presents our Carbon Management Plan which includes a breakdown of the University’s baseline scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions and the supporting plans, policies and strategies that work to mitigate and reduce these emissions.