Leiden University Achieves Significant Carbon Emission Reductions in 2023 Sustainability Monitor
The Sustainability Monitor 2023 shows that Leiden University is taking its sustainability efforts seriously. It is working on a greener campus and to integrate sustainability in its research and teaching. It is also taking steps to look more critically at its ties with the fossil fuel industry.
The university has made considerable progress towards a more sustainable campus and this can be seen in the Sustainability Monitor 2023 (in Dutch). One of the most striking results is a 47% reduction in C02 compared with 1990, achieved in part by drastically reducing our gas consumption and increasing the number of solar panels to over 5,000. This is an important step towards achieving our goal of a carbon-neutral campus by 2050. In addition, green roofs and biodiverse gardens helped green our campuses in 2023.
The university sees itself as a change agent with a responsibility to help create a sustainable future. Alongside reducing its own footprint, the university aims to play a leading role in teaching, research and social engagement on sustainability.
Sustainable research and teaching
Inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration was further improved within the university in 2023. With programmes such as Liveable Planet, the Leiden Biodiversity Network and the Citizen Science Lab,students, staff and civil society partners come together to work on urgent sustainability issues. The Liveable Planet programme, for example, encourages collaboration across faculty borders, while the Citizen Science Lab encourages citizen participation in scientific research.
The university also decided in 2023 to look more critically at its collaboration with the fossil fuel industry. In 2023 a debate was held with students, researchers and other staff about the university’s ties with fossil fuel businesses. Although a policy is still being developed, a list of ongoing collaborations has already been published. Work will continue on new criteria for assessing new collaborations with partners from the fossil fuel industry. We want to determine whether, and if so under what conditions, we want to work with these parties.
In 2023 the university started the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) pilot. This programme helps laboratories work more sustainably and focuses using resources more efficiently and reducing energy consumption and waste. Fifteen laboratories joined this programme, six of which earned a bronze certificate for their efforts in 2023. To earn this certificate, lab units or research groups need to apply a list of criteria and embed it in their daily work. The aim is that all of these labs earn a bronze certificate in 2024 and to expand the programme to other faculties.
Towards a sustainable future
The Sustainability Monitor 2023 shows that Leiden University has taken steps to achieve its sustainability objectives with important initiatives in its research, teaching and campus management. The focus for the coming years is on further integrating sustainability in its research and teaching and reducing its carbon emissions. The university continues to contribute to a green, healthy and inclusive future.