Carbon and climate

Carbon and climate

Solar panels on a roof

RMIT is a global leader in climate action, taking strategic steps to become carbon neutral by 2025, through genuine actions that demonstrate sustainability leadership in emissions reduction and innovative partnerships. The University also supports our local and international communities and partners to transition to a low carbon future and adapt to a changing climate.

 

Carbon Neutral 2025

RMIT University aims to become a certified carbon neutral organisation by 2025, covering scope 1 (direct), scope 2 (indirect) and scope 3 (upstream and downstream supply chain) emissions. The carbon-neutral target is a significant practical step to address our commitments to sustainability and climate change. The University moved this commitment forward from the previous date of 2030 to both acknowledge the progress that had already been made and to reinforce our commitment to urgent climate action.

Carbon Neutral 2030 logo
  • In 2021, RMIT received an Australasian Green Gown for Climate Action, this category recognises institutions that are taking innovative approaches to reach net-zero emissions targets. The judges felt RMIT was a deserving winner, with an application outlining the University's efforts to drive down emissions with a heavy focus on renewables, PPA frameworks and significant financial investments. They stated “It’s clear RMIT are taking a different approach to other institutions by using offsetting as a last resort and working hard to reduce their carbon footprint through all available means. Their responsible investment policy should also be commended”.
  • Following over five years of work to move the investment market for small-scale investors, RMIT worked with its external investment manager Russell Investments to launch a new sustainable global fund. This marked the final step in minimising the exposure to companies with a material impact on climate change. The initiative is in line with RMIT’s Responsible Investment Principles, the University’s External Fund Managers confirmed that the entire RMIT Portfolio had no exposure to fossil fuels as of 31 March 2021.

Carbon Management Plan

The Carbon Management Plan provides strategic guidance for RMIT University to manage its greenhouse gas emissions profile and outlines scenarios for the future. The Plan serves as a commitment by RMIT University to accurately measure, report and manage the emissions profile of the University.

RMIT follows the carbon management hierarchy of eliminating emissions from operations in the first instance. Reducing onsite emissions requires more perseverance and strategic capital investment in comparison to offsetting, RMIT considers this to be a more practical approach to emissions management. RMIT is proud to be the leading tertiary institution for onsite emissions reductions globally.

Our Carbon and Climate Performance

In 2021, RMIT achieved a 74% decrease in operational emissions from the 2007 emissions baseline (covering scope 1 and 2 building emissions). The majority of this reduction is due to energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy contracting. It should be noted that the continued impact of COVID-19 had an influence on the 2021 emissions profile, contributing an estimated 14% reduction.

A graph showing operational emissions for 2019, 2020 and 2021

A continued focus on energy efficiency and increasing on-site and off-site renewable energy generation is a key strategic pillar to reducing emissions. Programs include the prioritisation of energy efficiency in the built environment, progressively upgrading existing buildings, installation of on-site solar PV and contracting long-term renewable energy. These projects are reducing the University’s energy consumption and substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.

Climate Adaptation Plan

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan is to ensure that our community and infrastructure can continue to operate in a safe and sustainable manner in any climate or extreme weather event scenario.

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Energy efficient buildings

RMIT is strongly committed to transforming its own built environment to create sustainable and resilient cities. To achieve this RMIT is focusing on energy efficiency and emissions reduction in all capital projects. All projects must demonstrate a contribution to the goal of becoming carbon neutral and design elements are guided by sustainable design principles within the RMIT Design Standards.

Image of solar panels on a city roof

Solar photovoltaics

RMIT has installed solar PV across University rooftops, maximising the use of on-site renewable energy generation wherever possible. Solar installation sites were selected with the assistance of students from the School of Property, Construction and Project Management.

Sustainable Urban Precincts Program

In 2017, RMIT completed a $128 million program to reduce energy and water use, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with campus operations. The program of works included on-site electrical generation, high-efficiency boiler and chiller upgrades, over 40,000 LED light fittings, water savings fittings and fixtures, rainwater harvesting and upgrades to building management systems.

The Sustainable Urban Precincts Program was the largest energy performance contract in the southern hemisphere. Delivering over 30,000 tonnes of emissions savings every year. For more information visit our SUPP page.

Renewable energy purchasing

RMIT has demonstrated sustainability leadership through our role in two large-scale renewable energy purchasing groups with the City of Melbourne - the Melbourne Renewable Energy Projects 1 & 2. These two renewable energy supply agreements contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of affordable and clean energy and climate action. 

RMIT University led a group of Melbourne universities and businesses to source wind energy produced in regional Victoria.

Building on the success of the first Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP 1), RMIT and six partners used their combined purchasing power to secure wind energy through MREP 2, facilitated by the City of Melbourne.

The project sees 22 RMIT buildings across the City and Bundoora East campuses powered 100% carbon neutral electricity from January 2021, including Melbourne architectural icon, The Capitol.

Most of the wind power is produced at the Yaloak South Wind Farm near Ballan, with the remaining energy coming from other wind farm projects in regional Victoria.

The MREP 2 deal provides 110 GWh of electricity to the group per year, the equivalent to providing renewable energy to power more than 22,000 Australian households every year. It will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 123,000 tonnes a year, which is comparable to taking nearly 28,000 cars off the road.

Image of Yaloak windfarm at sunrise Image credit: Pacific Hydro

RMIT joined the City of Melbourne in forming the first Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP 1) in 2017. It was the first time in Australia that a group of local governments, cultural institutions, universities and corporations collectively purchased renewable energy from a newly built facility.

The fourteen members of that buying group combined their purchasing power to support the construction of a 39-turbine, 80 MW windfarm at Crowlands, near Ararat.

MREP 1 members commit to purchasing 88 GWh of electricity every year from the windfarm under a long-term power purchase agreement. The Crowlands wind farm generates more than the purchasing group's needs, bringing additional renewable energy into the market. It also provides long-term price certainty, enabling customers to mitigate the risk of increased energy costs in a volatile market.

Crowlands wind farm Image credit: Pacific Hydro
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.