AUDE Decarbonisation Guide

Our colleagues over at AUDE have published a valuable new tool ‘A Guide to Decarbonisation’, a project commissioned from Arup. 

The impact of climate change is, as all of us working in the HE sector know, one of greatest challenges we face. Decarbonisation of the estate sits high on the institutional task list, but it can seem daunting in terms of both cost and process. Where do we start? How do we finance the multiple sub-projects involved, and schedule them into a coherent plan of action that aligns with corporate strategy? How do we prioritise between the options available to us and consider our own unique position as universities in the decisions we make?

In this guide, AUDE addresses these questions and pulls together a wealth of information to support institutions in their decarbonisation journey.

Aligning decarbonisation plans with the development and implementation of institutional strategy is vital in
ensuring commitment from all stakeholders and that action can be prioritised amongst competing demands, of which there are many.

Given the size and complex nature of higher education institutions, strategic planners add huge value by joining up conversations and multi-function activities and combining their ‘big picture’ strategic view and technical analytical skills to enable the development and delivery of cross-institution agendas.

Given the nature of the HESPA community and the opportunity for collaboration around this agenda, this is an important guide for HESPA members to continue to leverage strong relationships across organisations. 

We know that universities are at different stages of maturity in their thinking on this issue. The Guide will support members whether their planning is at a ‘Foundation’ level, or at a point where ‘Enhanced Plans’ are needed, where the thinking is far enough evolved that real questions of detail can be considered, and the workings of corporate planning are ever more robust.

Andy Nolan, Chair of AUDE’s Sustainability Advisory Group said: ‘The guide will help you develop your decarbonisation plan. With practical advice and specifications it draws on the expertise of our members and partners in supporting you in this fundamental activity. If you are about to procure consultancy  advice for a decarbonisation plan, read the guide first – it will help you ensure you get an output that is bespoke and targeted to what you need and avoid the pitfalls that others have faced.’

Andy Sheppard, Associate Director and Project Lead for Arup, said: ‘ Developing a Decarbonisation Plan takes resources, time, commitment and emotional energy. But a plan is not the end-point – it should fire the starting gun for ever increasing momentum. Only by implementing a plan and creating real-world emissions reductions will we slow climate breakdown. In our experience, barriers to decarbonisation are very rarely technical. This is reflected in this guide by the constant reference to internal collaboration and the need to reach outside the Estates Department. A plan that stretches across an institution can uncover or highlight existing wider barriers. Focussing on these barriers in a positive way rather than wishing they didn’t exist is the only way create real progress.’

For further information you can read an article from Andy Nolan published on Wonkhe. You can also download the new guide here.