Greenhouse gas balance and roadmap

• Reducing GHG emissions in the area of energy usage by 67 % until 2030
• Reducing the use of energy by 28 % until 2030
• Changing to 100 % certified eco-power during the next tendering phase

In total, the University produces 27,005 tonnes of greenhouse gases (calculated as CO₂ equivalents) in the sector of energy usage every year. Almost half of it are caused by district heating (49 %) and electricity (46 %). With approximately 56 GWh, the annual electricity consumption of the University of Vienna corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 16,000 households. District heating consumption also amounts to around 56 GWh per year. To save more than two thirds of greenhouse gas emissions in the area of energy usage until 2030, the University of Vienna intends to emit 4,300 tons of greenhouse gases less per year through energy efficiency measures.

• Reducing emissions resulting from business trips and stays abroad by 75 % until 2030
• Reducing emissions resulting from commuting by 50 % until 2030

The area of mobility consists of commuting and university-related stays abroad of employees and students (e.g. business trips of employees, field trips). The lion’s share (58 %) of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by mobility result from business trips and stays abroad of employees. Until 2030, three quarters of emissions resulting from business trips and stays abroad should be cut. The commuting behaviour of our students and employees makes a significantly smaller contribution to the University’s carbon footprint. Also in this area, the University wants to reduce the related emissions by half until 2030.
 

At the University of Vienna, materials (IT devices, paper, hygiene paper,...) are purchased decentrally in many areas. Therefore, we intend to prepare guidelines for the sustainable acquisition of materials that help employees when purchasing goods. The goal until 2030 is to reduce one quarter of the produced greenhouse gas emissions.

With regard to the use of resources, the ClimCalc tool used for calculating the greenhouse gas balance only considers the procurement of paper and IT devices but not consumables in laboratories, for example. Although the reduction of the use of consumables does not formally contribute to reaching the goal of 'reducing GHG emissions by two thirds’ when using the ClimCalc tool, we intend to define measures in this area as well, e.g. with the support of the Green Labs initiative, in which research groups from several faculties are already participating. Here, one of the measures is to massively reduce the use of plastics in laboratories.

Following successful implementation of all reduction measures, there is still a remaining footprint of about a third of the initial GHG emissions. These have to be compensated by suitable compensation measures to achieve climate neutrality. The ‘Kompensation’ (compensation) working group is developing a compensation strategy for the University of Vienna, taking into account the Roadmap 2030 as well as any additional developments.