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Climate Neutral University of Graz

The University of Graz is on its way to becoming one of the first climate-neutral universities in Austria. By 2030, it aims to significantly reduce all greenhouse gas emissions produced on campus. The university’s goal is to achieve true climate neutrality by 2040.

 

 

As soon as 2030, the University of Graz hopes to reduce its emissions by at least two thirds with the help of its measures and achieve “net zero emissions” by participating in carbon storage in Austria. According to the Carbon Management approach implemented by the University of Graz, true climate neutrality means that at least 90 per cent of emissions must be reduced by 2040.

 

A greenhouse gas balance was drawn up in order to successfully achieve this climate neutrality goal. This balance marks the starting point on the roadmap outlining the measures taken by University Graz to becoming climate neutral.

The University of Graz Greenhouse Gas Balance

The greenhouse gas balance is calculated based on the average emissions recorded between the years 2015 to 2019. This balance marks the starting point on the way to implementing climate protection measures.

Greenhouse gas balance

The Roadmap to a Climate-Neutral University of Graz

With the help of the following planned measures, the University of Graz wants to be able to operate with “net zero emissions” by 2030 and achieve complete climate neutrality by 2040.

Roadmap

The climate-neutral university

The following four areas in companies are responsible for producing greenhouse gas emissions: energy, mobility, resources, and inventory (e.g. buildings and finance). The carbon management approach defines which actors can act in which way. The starting point for the measures leading to a reduction in emissions as well as emission storage is the greenhouse gas balance. This is calculated at the beginning of the project. The carbon management approach can be applied to institutional, personal, public, non-profit as well as commercial entities. Here you can find more information about the carbon management approach and its applicability in your organisation.

 

Built up and sealed

In Austria alone, an area the size of 16 football fields is used on average every day. More than half of this is lost through sealing.

Running hot

If the heat content in the atmosphere grows at such a disproportionate rate, this drives weather extremes even more strongly, says Gottfried Kirchengast, climate researcher from the University of Graz.

Hot at the heights

High-resolution satellite measurements provide researchers at the University of Graz with detailed insights into the atmosphere and allow better climate monitoring.

In need of protection

One goal of the "HIGH Horizons" research project is to develop measures to protect pregnant women, mothers and children in health care facilities from dangerous heat.

Green and fair

How can the emissions onus be distributed fairly among each of the EU member states? Researchers from the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change have developed a model

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