What are you doing to make a difference in Tasmania's carbon footprint?

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is very much working hard to help reduce Tasmania’s carbon footprint through a range of actions.

UTAS became the second carbon neutral certified university by the Commonwealth Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard in 2016 and in 2023 a third university in Australia has achieved this. Joining Race to Zero in early 2021 supports our commitment and recognises the climate emergency. Already carbon neutral, UTAS meets all Race To Zero criteria (pledge, plan, proceed, publish).

UTAS has reduced emissions even before these public commitments. Key initiatives include: complete fossil fuel divestment in 2021; reduced embodied carbon emissions in new buildings; transitions from natural gas to electric; all new developments solar power ready and many buildings now have solar panels; 13 years of supporting transport mode shift to more sustainable options such as bus, bike, carpooling and car sharing; and our efforts to reduce waste to landfill. While emissions reductions are already embedded in energy, transport and waste plans, our Emissions Reduction Strategic Plan 2022-2030 requires a minimum 50% reduction in total emissions by 2030. This will be accomplished by focusing on 15 emission sources with 42 specific actions. Remaining emissions are offset through domestic and international projects with environmental and social co-benefits, delivering a zero net emissions UTAS from 2016. We produce publicly available greenhouse gas emissions inventories every year as well as Public Disclosure Summaries for government websites.

Beyond Climate Active/Race to Zero related initiatives, UTAS’s climate action also includes research, learning and teaching, and engagement, with various internal and external (collaborative partnerships) groups working in these areas, such as:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leadership/authorship at forefront of Australasian contributions to global understanding of climate change. Five UTAS-linked scientists are among just 20 lead authors from Australia for the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the IPCC. Research of this quality has been made possible by the strong collaboration between the University, CSIRO, and the Australian Antarctic Division.
• Climate Futures leads the nation in impact mapping to a fine scale, winning the 2012 Resilient Australia Award from Emergency Management Australia. This project was an Australian leader and one of the first of its kind internationally due to its localised projections. Data from the project is now being made available to many sectors of the community including state and local government, emergency services, water authorities, power companies, farmers, graziers, fruit growers, vignerons, and researchers. Academic staff regularly present to company Boards and CEOs.
• Other groups with activities relating to climate action, include the Centre for Renewable Energy and Power Systems (CREPS), the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre led by UTAS, the Centre for Marine Sociology, and the Global Climate Change Week committee, as well as various groups researching ecological restoration in the face of climate change.
• Hundreds of students at all levels have been involved in climate related projects through the Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS). Between 2017-2020, 271 students undertook on-campus energy projects, 66 worked on sustainable transport, 113 undertook waste projects including audits, and 21 were involved in food and garden projects involving diverting food waste from landfill. Examples of student-led projects include options for Study Abroad students to offset their carbon footprints, a benchmarking study to understand climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies at Australian universities, student wellbeing for climate active students, support for Global Climate Change Week, and understanding financial divestment for the Tasmanian University Student Union. Postgraduate research project examples include a PhD project on sea level rise impacts on UTAS properties and a Masters research on diverting organic waste from landfill.
• UTAS currently offers 100+ courses with climate-focused units.

Climate Active information here: https://www.climateactive.org.au/

Race to Zero information here: https://racetozero.unfccc.int/

UTAS Greenhouse Gas Inventories available here: https://www.utas.edu.au/about/sustainability/facilities-and-operations/greenhouse-gas-emissions

UTAS Public Disclosure Summaries available here: https://www.climateactive.org.au/buy-climate-active/certified-members/university-tasmania