Agenda item

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

The Board received a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings (Barbican/GSMD) regarding the Guildhall School Carbon Reduction Strategy.

The Board noted that the Guildhall School’s original Carbon Reduction Strategy was first approved and published in February 2011 and had since been revised on an annual basis.  The report and the associated update of the Carbon Reduction Strategy 2011-2020 was the third revision. It included:

·         an update on progress achieved so far, showing that scope 1 and 2 direct greenhouse gas emissions were reduced to  31.56% below the 2005 baseline in 2011/12 , thus achieving the first interim milestone of a 31% reduction.  In the 2012/13 period this reduction had reduced to 28% of baseline, this could be attributed to the colder winter conditions in the period.  A degree day comparison with the 2005 baseline year showed a 31% increase in degree days for 2013.

·         the results of the 2013 staff travel survey showed an overall increase in carbon when compared to previous surveys. However when the increase in staff numbers was accounted for there was a decrease in carbon impact.

·         a continuation of the reduction target of 8% by 2020 for indirect greenhouse gas emissions arising from transport, and of 30% for those arising from water and waste.

The Board noted that the Higher Education Funding Council for England required that all Higher Education Carbon Reduction Strategies and their revisions should be approved by the Higher Education institution’s governing body.

RESOLVED, that – the revised Carbon Reduction Strategy be approved.