suggested. Reduce emissions of carbon dioxide

Reduced emissions of carbon dioxide

This year, carbon dioxide emissions from business air travel will be reduced by at least a quarter, compared to 2019. This is the major news in the extended action plan for sustainable development that comes into effect this year. – We will take more responsibility for reducing our climate impact, says Jan Pettersson, Director of the Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development, GMV.

THE NEW DECISION, taken by the vice-chancellor, is a tightening of the previous target of 6 percent. That goal could be met by a wide margin, as air traffic was largely at a standstill for most of 2020. – We chose to stick to 2019 as our starting point, as 2020 was a very special year. We have greatly reduced our travel because of the pandemic, which should have led to a change in behaviour and new skills in using digital tools, says Jan Pettersson, who is also a member of the working group within the Climate Framework, which prepared the proposal.

The University of Gothenburg’s demand for a 25% reduction in 2021 is based on the Paris Agreement’s requirement to limit the global temperature increase, preferably to 1.5°C but no more than 2°C. – For it to succeed, we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent every decade. It is a radical transition. Another implication of the Paris Agreement is that the rich countries, such as Sweden, should set a good example. Achieving the goal must be considered a minimum target for us at the national level, as well as for a major state university, says Jan Pettersson.

Another reason why it was set at 25 percent is due to a weighting of various factors. Partly, reduced funding in the proposed budget, which was justified by reduced travel due to the pandemic. For the University of Gothenburg, this translates into a reduction of SEK 11 million, which corresponds to 28 percent of the university’s total costs for air travel in 2019.

– WE HAVE A JOINT responsibility for how we handle the climate impact, says Jan Pettersson, who emphasizes that the world finds itself in an opportune moment for transitioning to more sustainable travel. We are learning exactly how to do this. – The University of Gothenburg, as a Swedish public body, can be expected to comply with Sweden’s commitments and dramatically reduce its emissions by 2030, and become climate neutral by 2045. Furthermore, the University of Gothenburg has joined the Climate Framework, Jan Pettersson continues.

In the longer term, 2030–2040, we must find new methods of flying that do not have an environmental impact.

JAN PETTERSSON

BUT IT IS NOT ABOUT stopping or banning air travel. – We will of course continue to travel, for a variety of reasons, because it is good for our organisation. But we do not have to fly as much, and we have probably learned a lot from the crisis we find ourselves in. He points out that the decision has sent an important message, not least to the students. – The University of Gothenburg is very good at sustainable development and the climate issue is part of the sustainability issues. The fact that we are taking important steps to move forward is of considerable significance, not only for the climate, but for all the international students who come here, because it is one of the University of Gothenburg’s key profile areas.

Instead of flying, he thinks more people should be encouraged to choose other modes of transport, such as travelling by train within Europe. The most important thing is to dramatically reduce emissions. This is not something that is optional, Jan Pettersson points out.

– BREAKING OUR dependence on fossil fuels is extremely important in the short term. Biofuels have been highlighted as a good environmental alternative, but they also have a major impact on the climate and health. In the longer term, 2030–2040, we must find new methods of flying that do not have an environmental impact. Maybe electric aircraft is the future!

Allan Eriksson

Top-10-destinations from Gothenburg

(number of trips

1. Umeå 153 2. London Heathrow 109 3. Helsinki 67 4. Zurich 61 5. Berlin 50 6. San Francisco 41 7. Munich 38 8. Stansted 38 9. Wien 37 10. Åbo 30

FACTS

The Vice-Chancellor has decided that emissions of carbon dioxide this year shall be reduced by at least a quarter, compared to 2019. The decision is based on the Paris Agreement’s requirement to limit the global temperature increase, preferably to 1.5°C but no more than 2°C.