UNSW Net Zero Strategy
To address the urgent issue of climate change, UNSW has committed to reduce its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero in line with global efforts to limit effort temperature increase to no more than 1.5°C.
We completed a GHG footprint of our entire value chain and found that our suppliers account for nearly half of our emissions. Through the Net Zero Strategy we aim to achieve our 2030 target of a 50% total emission reduction by:
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Engaging our suppliers
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Changing our behaviours
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Adapting our processes
We are asking our suppliers to come on the journey to net zero with us. This page provides information for our suppliers about our commitments and strategy, which will be updated as we continue to engage with you.
- Our supply chain focus
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UNSW has committed to monitoring its annual emissions footprint and progress against the targets set out in its Net Zero Strategy: to reduce total emissions by 30% by 2025, by 50% by 2030, and to achieve net zero by 2050. Our target includes total emissions categorised according to the three ‘scopes’ of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from fuel use and refrigerant gases
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from consumption of purchased electricity
- Scope 3: Indirect value chain emissions including our supply chain, investments, travel and tenants
UNSW has identified that a large proportion of emissions are driven through suppliers and their supply chains. Several strategic initiatives are being implemented to address these emissions sources, ranging from process and behaviour changes, as well as technology and data refinement.
Existing suppliers are a key priority for UNSW. We partner with a range of suppliers, and it is intended that we work together to build capabilities and tackle this challenge and measure and report performance against carbon targets.
The nine Net Zero Strategy initiatives are:
- Engaging with our existing suppliers to set science-based targets
- Procuring goods and services with carbon data
- Selecting goods and services from suppliers with science-based targets
- Engaging our people to contribute to UNSW's net zero mission
- Reducing travel emissions and offsetting residual emissions
- Reducing emissions from the purchase and use of IT assets and prolong asset lifecycles
- Reducing emissions from the purchase and use of research equipment and supplies and promoting sustainable lab practices
- Reducing emissions from construction and maintenance of property assets
We have prepared survey that aims to gauge the level of understanding of our supplier base on the issue of emission reduction and ability to provide emissions data. The data collected will inform future UNSW emission reduction and supplier engagement activities.
We ask that all suppliers complete the form below. Should you wish to submit any links or attachments to support your responses, or have any questions, please email them to sustainability@unsw.du.au.
UNSW's Sustainability and Procurement teams look forward to engaging with you further and working in partnership to tackle this important issue.
Further information about potential emission sources can be found in the Glossary of Emission Sources.