Danish universities are missing climate targets — the University of Copenhagen included

Danish universities’ are failing to deliver on carbon emissions reductions.

This is according to a report compiled by Akademikerbladet.

The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) committed itself in 2021 to halving its carbon footprint by 2030 compared to a 2018 emissions baseline.

But according to Akademikerbladet, progress towards this goal has been sluggish: In 2018, UCPH’s CO₂ emissions stood at 160,225 tonnes. In the most recent 2023 figures, that number had only dropped slightly to 150,621 tonnes. Compared to 2021, the year the decision was made, emissions have actually gone up.

One of the reasons is increased research funding and laboratory equipment purchases, Akademikerbladet writes.

Jacob Graff Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Law at UCPH and responsible for the university’s climate strategy, acknowledges that the trend »is cause for concern.«

»If it doesn’t start going down — or at least flattening out — then we really have to start thinking things through,« the law dean told Akademikerbladet. He added:

»I have recommended that we stick to the goal, but if the next report also points in the wrong direction, we may have to reconsider. The success of laboratory research benefits not only UCPH but also society as a whole in Denmark. It is up to the Board to continuously assess the goal.«

What about the other UCPH climate goals?

UCPH climate actions have also been widely debated in other contexts.

READ ALSO: Creating benefit for more people« — here is the University of Copenhagen’s 2030 strategy

In December 2023, the UCPH Board approved a comprehensive 2030 strategy for the university based on three core strategic goals: 1) UCPH is to be the best place for the best ideas, 2) UCPH is to be an innovative and solutions-oriented university, and 3) UCPH is to be a lifelong learning partner.

The final strategy was criticised for not including sustainability as an independent ambition. Among the critics was youth movement Den Grønne Ungdomsbevægelse, which held multiple demonstrations during board meetings.

Researchers also criticised the lack of climate ambition:

»We don’t understand how [the strategy, ed.] can even be considered for approval. Sustainability is a central requirement from all corners of UCPH — a broad and inclusive process with input from departments, centres, academic councils, study boards, and cooperation committees across the university has clearly shown this,« wrote Bo Fritzbøger, associate professor at the Saxo Institute, and Jakob Fritzbøger Christensen, project leader at the now-closed Sustainability Science Centre on the Danish-language site of the University Post in 2023.

READ ALSO: After 12 years, University of Copenhagen pulls the plug on Sustainability Science Centre

In the final strategy document it stated that sustainability should cut across all of UCPH’s strategic goals.