Turku University of Applied Sciences will be carbon neutral by 2025
Turku University of Applied Sciences has prepared a programme for sustainable development and responsibility. According to the programme, Turku UAS will be carbon neutral by 2025. Starting from 2025, Turku University of Applied Sciences will be climate positive in its operations.
Climate positivity means that our activities reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the globe instead of increasing them”, says Turku UAS’ Manager of Climate Issues, Principal Lecturer Juha Kääriä.
Turku UAS will carry out a carbon footprint calculation annually and monitor the development of its carbon footprint. Carbon footprint calculation which covers all the operations of Turku University of Applied Sciences based on the information from 2020 will be completed this spring.
– The most significant contributions to the carbon footprint are related to commuting and travelling, real estate, food services and procurements. To reach our goals, our programme will focus on these issues, says Juha Kääriä.
The programme for sustainable development and responsibility of Turku University of Applied Sciences is in line with the joint programme of universities of applied sciences, drawn up under the management of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene.
Two ways to have an impact: footprint and handprint
The programme for sustainable development and responsibility of Turku UAS consists of two entities: the footprint and the handprint. The carbon footprint covers the calculation of the carbon footprint, the actions taken to reduce emissions and the compensation of the remaining carbon emissions.
As for the carbon handprint, it includes information on how we produce solutions to sustainability challenges and train experts, who promote sustainable development in working life and society.
– In our programme we promise that all our graduates will have at least basic knowledge of sustainable development and responsibility, including climate issues, in addition to the expertise related to their respective fields. This spring we are already involved in Climate University courses, and Turku UAS has participated in creating contents for them, says Senior Advisor, Principal Lecturer Taru Konst.
Climate University is a flagship project of the Ministry of Education and Culture, in which 11 higher education institutions develop the climate competence of Finland.
In research, development and innovation activities, Turku UAS is involved in about 50 projects, which promote the goals of the programme for sustainable development and responsibility. The projects’ central themes include the promotion of e-mobility, the production of renewable energy and saving energy, circular economy and the changes in the water economy and clean water.
In addition, we promise to provide education for lifelong learning to promote sustainable development. In the programme, actions have been defined for each promise.
– We also promise to live what we preach. We will monitor the development of our staff’s competence in sustainable development and responsibility annually, says Taru Konst.