Queen's University Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast: Investing in Sustainability for a Greener Campus and Community

At Queen’s University Belfast, we are committed to social and civic responsibility and to supporting economic growth in an environmentally sustainable way. As part of Strategy 2030, we committed to embracing the Sustainable Development Goals across all our activities and to transition to a carbon neutral society. This is not a simple journey, but it is necessary and urgent. We have developed a Plan to enable us to achieve these ambitions – an action plan that will take us to net zero, and a plan for adapting to the impacts of climate change.  Our plan sets out our ambitions across 7 key areas.

In developing our new 2040 NZ Plan we undertook a NZ engagement campaign with our staff, students and local residents. This enabled them to have their say on Queen’s ambitions, whilst ensuring they are part of our sustainability journey. We then established a new baseline emission figure for 2018/19 of 105,430 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) covering scope 1,2 and 3 emissions (using the GHG Protocol). We modelled a comprehensive series of actions to drive the required reductions in carbon and achieve NZ by 2040 across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. To align with NI ambitions, we also have an interim target of 45% reduction by 2030 across scope 1 and 2.

What the Judges Thought

The judges were highly impressed by the scope and depth of the QUB Net Zero Strategy, which stands out for its bold policy and tangible results achieved so far. The application was of an exceptional standard, showcasing both quantitative and qualitative excellence. QUB sets a powerful benchmark, and any institution just beginning their decarbonisation journey would do well to look to QUB for inspiration.

What it Means to Win

"In 2023 we launched our ambitious Net Zero Plan which delivers an evidence-based pathway for reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040, as well as driving progress on several other sustainability fronts. As an anchor institution that is focused on the needs of our society locally and globally, we are delighted our commitment to sustainability has been recognised by the Green Gown Awards."

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor 

Top 3 Learnings

1. Collaborating with our local civic partners, academics and organisations has been a key part in the successful launch of our Net Zero Plan.
2. A key part in creating the Net Zero Plan was our engagement campaign, which enabled our staff, students, and local residents to have their say – ensuring they are part of the journey.
3. Don’t forget the elephant in the room – tackle scope 3 where you can!