University of Limerick unveils roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030

IN A SIGNIFICANT move towards combating climate change, the University of Limerick (UL) has announced its comprehensive plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

The university recently published its Climate Action Roadmap 2030, outlining a series of ambitious actions and projects that will guide its path towards becoming a sustainable institution.

The plan encompasses a range of initiatives to reduce the university's carbon footprint. One of the key commitments involves retrofitting university buildings to enhance heat, lighting, and energy sources, thereby improving energy efficiency.

According to the roadmap, the makeup of the campus carbon footprint include thermal emissions of campus buildings, which account for 19% of total emissions, while electrical emissions account for 17%. 

UL say they plan to implement sustainable forms of transportation exclusively within and between campuses, with an emphasis on promoting physical mobility whenever possible. Additionally, aiming to source the majority of its campus food from "within the bioregion or directly from university grounds, prioritizing local and sustainable food systems."

Speaking at the Annual Presidents Dinner, UL President Professor Kerstin Mey highlighted the urgency of addressing humanity's impact on the environment. "To become a sustainable university, we must first acknowledge that true sustainability will require permanent adaptive responsiveness to on-going change.

"At UL we intend to go beyond traditional curricula and research programmes, and actively explore change within our own ethos, practices, and operations".

The Climate Action Roadmap 2030 outlines various tangible projects aimed at achieving UL's sustainability goals. Among them is the development of an Earth Guild trade school that will provide upskilling programs in sustainability practices for trade professionals.

UL have said they will also transform its campus into a self-powered environment, developing sustainable energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels. The university also hope to retrofit existing university buildings for improved energy efficiency and create greenhouses and a campus farm to "foster self-sufficiency practices."

The university say they aim to developing a digital model of its campus infrastructure, allowing for simulation, testing, and progress monitoring. Sustainability programs for both students and staff will also be implemented.

By 2030, the university says they strive to have the majority of its campus food sourced locally and sustainably. It also aims to provide only sustainable forms of transportation within and between campuses, promoting greener mobility options. 

Professor Mey emphasized the importance of engaging UL students in the process, recognizing their fresh perspectives, creativity, and enthusiasm for problem-solving. "Engaging students in the work of a mission lab at UL will be crucial for the progression of this roadmap and for our transition to becoming a sustainable university".

The 43 mission projects contained in the UL Climate Action Roadmap 2030 include completion dates, funding sources and owners with many of them already commenced and underway.  

The plan also includes details of UL’s current carbon footprint as it relates to university buildings, energy, transport, waste, and procurement as well as carbon sequestration forecast for each mission contained within the roadmap.