Further legislation is expected to take forward some of the issues identified in the Climate Change Act, 2008.
A number of universities (including Edinburgh and City) are joining the 10:10 campaign, which is committed to cuts of 10% in carbon emissions in 2010. Some institutions are going further and encouraging staff and students to reduce their air travel, meat consumption and energy and car use.
The HEFCE has published a carbon reduction strategy for higher education institutions in England, under which institutions will be expected to cut their carbon output by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, based on 1990 baselines. HEIs must also have carbon management plans in place.
The HEFCE has funded a number of projects under the Leading Sustainable Development in HE initiative. One, which may be of particular interest to governors is 'Developing leaders for sustainable development' based at the Universities of Sussex and Bournemouth.
The Learning in Future Environments (LiFE) Index has been launched to help universities and colleges improve their sustainability and to learn from each other through best practice.
An increasing number of universities are publishing reports on sustainability, focusing on their plans and achievements in this area.
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