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University of Copenhagen
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Working environment
Sustainability — Despite the University of Copenhagen’s pledge to halve its climate footprint by 2030, new data show that progress is far from on track. Twenty-two out of 58 units are not meeting targets to reduce emissions from air travel.
The climate impact of air travel at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) has increased for the third consecutive year.
This is according to new data compiled as a part of a UCPH ambition to become a more sustainable university.
In 2024, university employees emitted an average of 1.21 tonnes of greenhouse gases per full-time staff equivalent (FTE) due to air travel — an 11 per cent increase over the year before.
Although emissions are still below the 2018 baseline — which UCPH uses to measure its progress — the trend is a cause for concern, university management write on the university’s intranet KUnet.
The trend will likely also mean that travel will not be able to contribute to the overall target of halving the climate footprint per full-time equivalent by 2030.
The data show that 22 of the 58 UCPH units are not on course to meet 2030 targets. Only 24 of the units are on track, while 12 of them are technically in line with targets but have increasing emissions — something that in itself could signal trouble ahead.
READ ALSO: Danish universities are missing climate targets — the University of Copenhagen included
To address this, UCPH management has sent the new data to local managers, so they can monitor their unit’s flight habits and discuss possible interventions.
As can be seen in the two charts below, it is especially the long-haul flights that are problematic. While they make up a smaller share of total trips, they account for more than half of total greenhouse gas emissions from air transport for UCPH.
A new feature of this year’s analysis is that managers now also have access to the data of individuals. According to Jacob Graff Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Law and the strategy lead on UCPH sustainability efforts, this is intended to promote an open dialogue with staff about travel needs and possible alternatives.
»It’s essential not to blame and shame one another, which is why managers should handle the data with care.« he emphasises.
»I urge us all to be open to discussing it and draw inspiration from the units and employees who have succeeded in reducing air travel« says Jacob Graff Nielsen in the KUnet release.