The University of Lapland’s carbon footprint has decreased

Last year, the University of Lapland’s carbon dioxide emissions decreased by ten percents compared with the previous year. Business travel saw the largest decrease in emissions, with a total reduction of 17 percent.

The University of Lapland has calculated its carbon footprint from 2024. The university’s carbon dioxide emissions totalled 3,092 tonnes. The emissions have decreased by ten percent compared with 2023.

Business travel accounted for the largest decrease in emissions, with a total reduction of 17 percent. Osmo Rätti, the Chair of the University of Lapland’s environmental working group, explains that the change is mainly due to a decrease in air travel.

“Instead of flying, university personnel have started to travel more by train than before. Our versatile and routine opportunities for remote work and meetings have certainly contributed to the decrease in air travel”, Rätti estimates.

Business travel is the second largest source of carbon emissions. During the comparison period, emissions from the largest source of carbon emissions – procurements – decreased by 11 percent. The change is explained especially by the decreased number of procurements, which directly lowers the emissions associated with them.

The third most significant source of carbon emissions in the university’s operations is the property. This year, their emissions increased by 4 percent compared with 2023. The change is due to increased property repair investments, which the university had to make more of compared with the previous year. Most of the properties are rented from University Properties of Finland Ltd, which offsets emissions from its own buildings.

The university’s total emissions have been decreasing for three years

The University of Lapland has calculated its carbon footprint annually since 2021. The carbon footprint is calculated according to the so-called Greenhouse Gas protocol. University researcher Osmo Rätti says the university’s total emissions have been decreasing ever since 2022.

“We are going in the right direction. Our goal is to decrease our emissions also in the upcoming years”, says Rätti.

The goal has been incorporated into the programmes that guide the university’s operations, sustainability and responsibility, which have been extensively updated this year: the sustainability and responsibility programme, campus space strategy, procurement programme and travel instructions.

Based on the programmes, significantly more attention will be paid to sustainability and responsibility, for example, in procurement processes and assessing travel needs and practices. Additionally, we intend to improve the efficiency of campus space use.

Further information:

University researcher Osmo Rätti
Chair of the University of Lapland’s environmental working group
osmo.ratti (at) ulapland.fi
Tel. +358 40 013 8804