University of Leuven aims to be climate neutral by 2030

In response to a report on CO2 emissions from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), a working group of the university’s think-tank Metaforum has presented its action plan “KU Leuven Climate Neutral 2030”.

The university in its entirety emitted almost 200,000 tons of CO2 in 2010. The biggest share of energy consumption is used by buildings and transport facilities. The Metaforum experts confronted the university community with these data during three round table discussions over the last few months.

These meetings resulted in a long list of possible measures that KU Leuven could implement in a relatively short period of time with few inconveniences. The most important themes are buildings, energy, mobility, green zones, purchases and health.

Among the proposed  initiatives are insulation, renovations, ICT tools to avoid transfers, regional purchases and conserving green zones. The policy should also, says Metaforum, include campaigns aimed at students and staff such as general guidelines to limit the paper used to print Master’s theses.

The Metaforum experts also recommend the practical integration of new policies through advisory bodies such as a sustainability council and an expertise centre. These should unite the knowledge of researchers, staff and students. Sustainable thinking should also be translated into education and research, through transdisciplinary courses and ecological research projects.