Dedication from staff and students towards creating a more sustainable future has seen De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) win a nomination for a prestigious global award.
DMU has been shortlisted in the 2030 Climate Action category at this year’s International Green Gown Awards which celebrates the work being done in universities and colleges around the world to tackle climate change and promote sustainability.
The university has been shortlisted for its comprehensive approach to carbon management which embraces physical changes to campus as well as embedding sustainability into the heart of its teaching and learning- alongside supporting local businesses and community organisations to engage with climate action.
Karl Letten, Sustainability Manager at DMU, said: “To be recognised on the international stage for our work addressing climate change is a testament to the great work that happens right across the university in reducing emissions and engaging our staff and students on this important issue.
“We aim to reduce our carbon emissions across all our operations, but we know we need to support our community to understand their own carbon footprint and provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to reduce their carbon impact.”
Work led by DMU’s Sustainability Manager, Karl Letten, the Energy team and the Estates and Facilities Directorate, so far has resulted in DMU reducing energy related carbon emissions by 49 per cent between 2005 and 2019, one year ahead of its 2020 target.
The carbon plan is the first of DMU’s three-phase approach to reduce emissions from scope 1 and 2 sources to net carbon zero by 2032.
The university is currently working on a project to tackle scope 1 emissions, carbon emissions created directly by DMU, such as emissions from heating its buildings and emissions from its own vehicles – and scope 2 emissions, carbon created indirectly by the purchase of electricity supplies.
Most recently, the university has taken strides towards moving the organisation closer to its goal of net-zero carbon for its energy use by 2032- installing the first renewable energy heat pump, replacing an old gas boiler on its Campus Centre roof.
The new heat pump is part of a new sustainable heating system the university plans to roll out across the whole of its campus over the coming years.
Karl and his team are also looking to reduce scope 3 emissions – those indirectly caused by the university, such as waste management and disposal, commuting by students and staff, procurement and investments – to net zero by 2045.
As part of its Civic University commitments, DMU has also worked alongside the University of Leicester and other local organisations to support climate action by local businesses, local authorities, schools and community organisations, through the provision of Carbon Literacy training, audits and consultancy.
This ongoing cross-sector collaboration has been recognised internationally as an outstanding flagship approach for universities to support climate action in their local area, as well as providing the wider community with the necessary skills and knowledge to reduce their own carbon impact.
Last year the university received a double award win in the UK Green Gown Awards, and DMU’s School of Fashion and Textiles was recognised globally for its sustainable fashion at the 2022 International Green Gown Awards.
2023 winners will be announced at the International Awards Ceremony, in association with Allianz Global Investors, which takes place virtually at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on 17th July 2023.
Posted on Monday 15 May 2023