St Andrews becomes the first Carbon Neutral verified university in Scotland
As the effects of climate change begin to become more noticeable, we are proposing a plan for the St. Andrews to become the first verified carbon neutral institution in Scotland. To become carbon neutral is to have a net-zero sum of carbon emissions, this can be achieved through investing in projects that aim to balance or reduce emissions, or sequestration projects that seek to remove emissions from the atmosphere.
The University of St Andrews is already making strides to achieve net-zero by the year 2035, through multi-stakeholder initiatives including students, staff, and the broader St Andrews community. The university is a leader of higher education around the world, known for its cutting-edge research. In this vein, we see great value in St. Andrews in taking on a vanguard role in carbon neutrality.
The London School of Economics became the first carbon-neutral University in 2021. Similar to LSE, St. Andrews already has an extensive Green Guide available, yet LSE took the important step to invest in a partnership with the carbon-offsetting non-profit Compensate Foundation. While LSE already had mechanisms in place to reduce their emissions, much like St. Andrews, they went a step further by mitigating unavoidable emissions through the non-profit’s carbon credit program, simultaneously supporting forest conservation, biodiversity, and creating economic opportunities for local communities. With this in mind, we believe our proposal presents a great opportunity for the University to extend its vanguard role, create positive social impact, and make tangible contributions in the fight against climate change.