Our net zero journey

Achieving net zero is one of the most significant and complex commitments the University has ever made. Since our 2018/19 baseline we have already reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 40 per cent, driven by investment in energy efficiency, changes to our estate and a shift to low-carbon electricity. This early progress has given us a strong foundation, but it has also highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead.

Our original 2020–2025 sustainability strategy set very ambitious carbon targets, including a 60 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025 and net zero by 2030. For Scope 3 emissions we aimed for a 30 per cent reduction by 2025, 75 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2038. Since then, the context around us has changed dramatically. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted long-term planning and delayed major decarbonisation projects. This was followed by sharp increases in energy, construction and materials costs, making it much harder to deliver large infrastructure changes on the original timescales. At the same time, universities across the UK, including Sheffield, have come under increasing financial pressure, limiting the level and speed of capital investment that can be made responsibly.

Over the past five years we have also developed a much clearer picture of our carbon footprint. Detailed work on campus decarbonisation has shown what is technically and financially realistic for our buildings and energy systems. For Scope 3 emissions in particular, better data on our supply chains, travel, IT, food and waste has revealed that some of our early assumptions were overly optimistic. Taken together, these changes mean that our original targets are no longer achievable in a way that is responsible or sustainable for the institution.

In response, we have set new science-led targets that remain ambitious but are grounded in robust evidence and a realistic understanding of cost, timescales and capacity. These are supported by a Campus Decarbonisation Plan for energy and heat, and by a new approach to Scope 3 that focuses on the areas where we can have the greatest influence.

These targets are aligned with science-based decarbonisation pathways for large organisations in the Sheffield City Region. They are underpinned by a detailed plan to decarbonise our energy use, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve the performance of our buildings, while also recognising the financial, engineering and practicasl delivery constraints we face.

Scope 3 checkpoints

Scope 3 emissions account for around 90 per cent of our total footprint, and many of these emissions sit in places we do not directly control. Rather than setting a single headline number, we are introducing a system of checkpoints across key focus areas by 2030. These include:

• Carbon budgets for business travel and capital projects.
• Targets to reduce emissions from commuting, IT and lab activity.
• A shift towards lower-carbon food provision and more sustainable purchasing.
• Clearer expectations for suppliers and procurement decisions.

These checkpoints will help us track progress, adjust our approach where needed and focus effort where it has the greatest impact.

Our commitment has not changed: we will make rapid and deep cuts in our emissions, invest in long-term, low-carbon solutions and be transparent about the trade-offs and constraints we encounter along the way. Net zero remains our destination. This updated pathway reflects what we have learned so far and the realities of the world we are operating in, while keeping our ambition high.