CO2 neutral by 2030

All activities of Utrecht University impact the environment. That is why we want to reduce our environmental impact. By 2030, the operational management of UU will be CO2 neutral. 

How are we going to do that?

  • By reducing the direct CO2 exhaust caused by our own sources within the organisation.
  • The indirect CO2 exhaust, caused by the electricity or warmth we bought and used, will be reduced to zero.
  • By reducing the indirect CO2 exhaust, caused by corporate activities of organisations UU collaborates with, such as service providers and suppliers.
  • By only compensating for CO2 exhaust if reduction it is not financially or technologically feasible.
  • By investing in construction and renovation projects to make buildings sustainable: healthy, circular and energy generating.
  • By using solar panels, solar fields and solar carports.
  • By procuring 100 % green energy generated by windmills in the Netherlands.

Energy strategy

Science and education require energy now and in the future. Utrecht University's energy consumption is high and causes by far the most CO2 emissions produced by Utrecht University. How do we ensure that we can continue to meet energy and heat demand in the future?

Read more about the energy strategy here

A carbon-neutral energy supply

Utrecht University wants to be CO2-neutral by 2030 and natural gas-free by 2040. In this video you can see how we want to achieve these goals.

CO2-footprint

Utrecht University aims to be climate neutral by 2030. Every year since 2014, the university has published the greenhouse gas emissions caused by its activities. The total CO2 emissions in 2022 were 30,680 tonnes. 

CO2 footprint

Future-proof buildings

Utrecht University aims to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Realizing future-proof buildings will contribute to this goal. Future-proof buildings are essential in developing a sustainable, vital and affordable campus.

We focus on the following specific topics:

  • Sustainable Travelling Mobility causes a large part of the CO2 exhaust of our university. That is why as UU, we want to make less travelling and more sustainable travelling the norm. With the sustainable travel campaign 'Right on track', we give staff members and students guides to travel less and in ways which are more sustainable and efficient.
    Sustainable travelling
  • Sustainable Procurement We must become more environmentally aware, in order to preserve our own living environment for future generations. That is why as UU, we aim to achieve sustainable procurement of supplies and services. Responsible chain management and circularity take centre stage in this.
    Sustainable procurement
  • Sustainable, future-proof buildings We must reduce our effect on the environment by designing and building with environmentally-friendly products. When developing, constructing and managing the buildings, Utrecht University chooses the leading principles: healthy, energy generating and circular.
    Sustainable, future-proof buildings
  • Catering The university is working on making catering more sustainable. We are committed to a sustainable composition of the supply and reducing food waste.
    Catering

More information