Environmental sustainability and resilience
Campus mall walkway aerial shot showing solar panels and green trees lining the main mall
What is the societal challenge?
Globally, the shift towards producing and using renewable energy is increasing. Over the past decade the production of renewable energy has more than doubled, and its share of total primary energy consumption has grown from 9% to 13%. However, despite this growth, the use of fossil fuels is still increasing to meet energy demands.
To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C – as per the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% in 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Governments have the biggest responsibility in the transition to net-zero emissions by mid-century, but businesses, institutions, investors, cities, communities, states and regions must also take action to support the transition.
While tackling climate change is a top priority for university education, research and innovation, university activities have a significant climate impact. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy sources such as electricity and gas are well documented and tracked, however indirect supply value chain emissions account for the majority of emissions from large organisations. These types of emissions result from supply chains, investment activities, travel, waste and other indirect sources, and are typically outside of an organisation’s direct control. Addressing this issue requires collaboration with suppliers and partners to drive emission reductions in the wider economy.
Impact category*
Project leads
Andrew Dansic, Academic Lead, Humanitarian Engineering, UNSW
Moses Alicwamu, Water Program Manager, ASEI Uganda
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The University of NSW is home to a large community of more than 60,000 students and 7000 staff and has its own dedicated postcode; it is the size of a small city. In 2018, it reported having a GHG footprint of over 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), which comprised of emissions from fuels and gases (scope 1 emissions: 3%), electricity (scope 2 emissions: 24%) and value chain (scope 3 emissions: 73%).
In 2020, UNSW Sydney became the first University in Australia to calculate and publicly report a comprehensive value chain GHG footprint. UNSW set a target to reduce total emissions to net zero in line with global efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C and announced that it would divest its holdings of fossil fuel company investments by 2025.
Also in 2020, UNSW switched to 100% renewable electricity through a landmark solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Sunraysia Solar Farm in regional NSW. The section of the Sunraysia project that is dedicated to supplying the University with power contains approximately 140,000 panels which use PERC silicon solar technology; pioneered at UNSW by Professor Martin Green and the late Professor Stuart Wenham.
UNSW is continuing to expand onsite solar PV capacity and working to electrify campuses to eliminate fossil fuel use. Between 2019 and 2022 UNSW added five new rooftop solar PV systems, bringing total capacity to 1.2MW, one of which powers six new electric vehicle (EV) chargers – one of the largest EV charging vehicle facilities in Sydney.
UNSW has also been working to reduce scope 3 emissions from its supply chain and investment activities. Initiatives to reduce supply emissions include assessing supplier sustainability credentials as part of tender processes.
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With electricity supplied by the Sunraysia Solar Farm, augmented by onsite solar PV systems, solar energy supplies the University with 100% of its electricity demand, saving approximately 77,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions per annum based on 2019 emissions. UNSW surrenders large-scale generating certificates (LGCs) received through the Power Purchase Agreements equivalent to 100% of its electricity consumption, enabling it to claim that it uses 100% emissions free, renewable electricity.
“Having switched to 100% renewable electricity in 2020, our focus is now on electrifying campus infrastructure and tackling emissions from our supply chain, investments, and travel. Most of these emissions are outside of our direct control and can only be reduced through engagement and partnership” - William Syddall, Head of Environmental Sustainability
UNSW has continued to track and publicly report its total GHG emissions since 2018 in the annual Environmental Sustainability Report. It is publicly available to assist universities and other organisations to understand, measure and reduce their key value chain emission sources, and develop a science-based pathway to net zero.
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- Maoneng Australia
- Origin Energy
- UNSW is a signatory to the Race to Zero, a global United Nations-led campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery