{"id":4111,"date":"2025-11-13T10:40:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T09:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/?p=4111"},"modified":"2026-04-20T08:42:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T07:42:14","slug":"from-bottom-up-to-broad-support-the-road-to-a-carbon-neutral-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/from-bottom-up-to-broad-support-the-road-to-a-carbon-neutral-university\/","title":{"rendered":"From bottom-up to broad support: the road to a carbon-neutral university"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Our university cut its CO\u2082 emissions by 16.5 per cent in five years. A solid result, but we aren\u2019t on track yet to meet our targets. Although many services and departments are already on board with the climate agenda, we still need to step things up: \u2018The collective support is there; now\u2019s the time to turn that into action.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the climate clock ticking ever louder \u2013 and national and international ambitions often overtaken by daily concerns \u2013 there seems little reason for optimism. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/staff\/matthias-verstraeten_24028\/\">Matthias Verstraeten<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/centres\/environment-sustainable-development\/\">Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development<\/a> (IMDO) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/staff\/simon-geerts_26742\/\">Simon Geerts<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/pintra.uantwerpen.be\/webapps\/ua-pintrasite-BBLEARN\/module\/index.jsp?course_id=_51_1&amp;l=en_us\">Environment Office<\/a> prefer to focus on the opportunities, which they assure us are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018As a university, it\u2019s our responsibility to lead by example in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions,\u2019 says Matthias. \u2018<strong>Our aim is to be climate-neutral by 2030, with a 55 per cent CO\u2082 reduction, and to be free of fossil fuels by 2050<\/strong>. The 16.5 per cent reduction we\u2019ve already achieved is good, but we need to do even better. To stay on course for 55 per cent, we should already be at 24 per cent.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Climate Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The university\u2019s climate efforts got a boost in 2018 with the launch of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/projects\/uantwerp-climate-team\/\">Climate Team<\/a>: a bottom-up action group aiming to make our university climate-neutral as swiftly as possible. Several working groups were created around themes such as food, mobility, waste and circularity, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/projects\/uantwerp-climate-team\/climate-action-strategy\/\">climate action plan<\/a> was drawn up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018What\u2019s exciting about the Climate Team is that it brings together people from across the university to talk to one another. We\u2019ve built a wide network and we know what\u2019s going on. At first it was entirely volunteer-driven; by now, two permanent staff members have been hired,\u2019 Matthias continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baseline measurement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2018 an external consultancy ran a baseline measurement, calculating our university\u2019s CO\u2082 footprint. The exercise was repeated in 2023, this time in-house by the Environment Office. Simon: \u2018The new measurement is broader, with fresh emphases. Whereas we used to focus mainly on energy and mobility, we now looked at \u201cinputs\u201d: all the products and services the university purchases each year.\u2019 From now on, a measurement will take place every two years, providing the basis for policy adjustments by the university.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/80d99b9f-88d4-4832-a6c8-0cf99f20837e.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5436\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The largest source of CO\u2082 emissions at UAntwerp is, by far, the purchase of products and services (39%), followed at some distance by commuting by staff and students (27%), and energy for heating and materials for the construction of new buildings (23%). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the progress between 2018 and 2023 came from switching to <strong>100 per cent green electricity<\/strong>. \u2018That was low-hanging fruit; we won\u2019t be making another leap like that any time soon. The road ahead is challenging, with a sizeable gap between ambition and reality. Other universities face the same issue, but I\u2019m convinced there are still opportunities,\u2019 Matthias explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Long-term strategy for building stock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The biggest financial challenge is our building stock<\/strong>. Considerable investment is needed to make our \u2013 partly ageing \u2013 buildings energy-efficient and, in time, fossil-free. \u2018First and foremost we need a long-term strategy,\u2019 says Matthias. \u2018That means analysing future needs for research and education, and what our buildings can offer. <strong>We should also look at how we can make flexible working more comfortable and more widespread<\/strong>.\u2019 Simon points to the refurbished Building B on Stadscampus as a good example of this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Purchasing is another area where the team wants to move forward<\/strong>. Simon: \u2018We need to factor in the CO\u2082 impact of products more explicitly, <strong>and extend product lifetimes<\/strong> \u2013 like we\u2019re doing with ICT equipment, for example. Our ICT colleagues already choose to use laptops and monitors for as long as possible.\u2019 <strong>A new challenge is the organisation-wide use of AI<\/strong>. Simon: \u2018A new working group will coordinate that. But it\u2019s also about awareness: what is the environmental impact of extra server capacity, and where in the world is it located?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matthias: \u2018From January, the university also plans to adopt the <strong>Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF)<\/strong>, developed by University College London to improve efficiency in laboratory-based research and education.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:35% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Simon-Geerts.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4104 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Simon-Geerts.png 400w, https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Simon-Geerts-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Simon-Geerts-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Simon-Geerts-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>&#8220;<strong>A new challenge is the organisation-wide use of AI. What is the environmental impact of extra server capacity, and where in the world is it located? A new working group will coordinate that.<\/strong>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2013 Simon Geerts<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mobility: we\u2019re doing well<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When it comes to mobility, especially commuting, our university isn\u2019t doing too badly at all.<\/strong> Only 22 per cent of staff travel to campus by car, compared with 67.5 per cent across the whole of Flanders. Various initiatives were launched in this area, including a systematic analysis of travel behaviour and the provision of lease bikes. Parking policy is under review too. Matthias: \u2018At present most car parks are freely accessible to everyone. You could limit access based on distance from home, for instance.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our university\u2019s approach to international travel is also leading by example. <\/strong>\u2018International trips are part of academic life, but we ask everyone to reflect: is this journey truly necessary? If so, can I take the train? For distances that can be covered by train in under eight hours, we ask people to actually choose that option. When flights are booked, we charge a CO\u2082 contribution to fund climate-friendly investments,\u2019 Matthias explains. <strong>A project group on sustainability and internationalisation is exploring further actions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 35%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>&#8220;When it comes to mobility, especially commuting, our university isn\u2019t doing too badly at all. Only 22 per cent of staff travel to campus by car, compared with 67.5 per cent across the whole of Flanders.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2013 Mathias Verstraeten<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathias-Verstraeten.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4105 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathias-Verstraeten.png 400w, https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathias-Verstraeten-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathias-Verstraeten-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mathias-Verstraeten-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Towards Sustainability label<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our university has also made progress on <strong>investments<\/strong>. Matthias: \u2018We recently started applying the principles of the Towards Sustainability label. Professor Luc Van Liedekerke (Department of Management) was closely involved in developing this label with partners from the financial sector. We\u2019re taking significant steps in this area.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Food <\/strong>is another important domain. Although its share in our overall footprint is smaller, it remains a keyway to raise awareness, Simon believes. \u2018Our komida team prioritises plant-based proteins, reusable packaging and seasonal vegetables. It\u2019s paying off: 65 per cent of the meals we serve are vegetarian or vegan.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Roadmap: where to next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To target our efforts more effectively, the <strong>Climate Team wants to work with central services on a roadmap that lists concrete measures and their individual impact.<\/strong> That will clarify which actions are needed to meet our goals, although not all progress is easily captured in numbers. \u2018Embedding sustainability in our education and research is hard to quantify, but it\u2019s essential. We are, after all, a research and education institution,\u2019 Simon notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is more good news: for the first time, the new board has appointed a <strong>vice-rector for Sustainability<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/staff\/steven-vanpassel\/vice-rector\/\">Steven van Passel<\/a>. The Education Department has also set up a <strong>sustainability and education working group<\/strong> to examine whether sustainability features sufficiently in our study programmes. And the Board of Governors has approved all the objectives in the climate action plan. \u2018That\u2019s a significant commitment,\u2019 says Matthias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working towards a climate-neutral university isn\u2019t about choosing one thing over another, he concludes. \u2018We need progress on all fronts to achieve our targets. The challenges are considerable, but seeing how many people remain tirelessly committed keeps me hopeful.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you also see climate and sustainability within our university as priorities, check out the programme for <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/events\/greenoffice\/climate-week\/\"><em>Climate Week<\/em><\/a><em>, which runs until 21 November.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you work in a lab or teach practicals and are keen to implement LEAF, get in touch with Simon or Matthias.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our university cut its CO\u2082 emissions by 16.5 per cent in five years. A solid result, but we aren\u2019t on track yet to meet our targets. Although many services and departments are already on board with the climate agenda, we still need to step things up: \u2018The collective support is there; now\u2019s the time to turn that into action.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":4106,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[591,592,593],"coauthors":[139],"class_list":["post-4111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campusnews","tag-carbon-neutral-university","tag-climate-action-plan","tag-climate-week"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>From bottom-up to broad support: the road to a carbon-neutral university - Pintra (EN) Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/from-bottom-up-to-broad-support-the-road-to-a-carbon-neutral-university\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From bottom-up to broad support: the road to a carbon-neutral university - Pintra (EN) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our university cut its CO\u2082 emissions by 16.5 per cent in five years. 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