With squeezed budgets, unleashed AI and the actions of a hostile US government at the forefront of the university sector’s mind, has the climate crisis been pushed to the back burner? With 2050 creeping closer, and global higher education accounting for about 18.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually (as of 2023), we look at what’s being done – and whether it will be enough. Find out the steps to carbon neutrality, how to inspire the next generation to continue progress towards net zero, and small ways to improve environmental impact on campus.
Higher education's bumpy road to net zero
How universities and academics can ensure rhetoric translates to action on the climate crisis
With squeezed budgets, unleashed AI and the actions of a hostile US government at the forefront of the university sector’s mind, has the climate crisis been pushed to the back burner? With 2050 creeping closer, and global higher education accounting for about 18.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually (as of 2023), we look at what’s being done – and whether it will be enough. Find out the steps to carbon neutrality, how to inspire the next generation to continue progress towards net zero, and small ways to improve environmental impact on campus.
Reaching net zero goals
Resources
Reaching net zero goals
Resources
The environmental cost of AI
With reports that Google’s carbon emissions have risen 48 per cent in the past five years, AI use may quite literally end up costing the Earth. This advice covers how to help your students use AI more sustainability, and how research into making AI “less thirsty” could promise a more resilient future.
Inspiring students to take action
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Inspiring students to take action
Putting the wheels in motion for a deadline that’s 25 years away will only work if we’ve equipped today’s students with the motivation and skills to carry on. Read about ways to inspire students to take up climate action, embedding sustainability in education, and addressing the anxiety they may feel, without leaving them feeling powerless.
Creating a more sustainable campus
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Creating a more sustainable campus
What are the small things we can do individually to inch closer to net zero? Here, find out how to make your labs more sustainable, start initiatives to reduce waste on campus and the road to greener on-campus transportation.
