Our commitment
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges humanity has faced. Under the Paris Agreement we know that we need to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees to avoid the worst impacts. We need to play our part in this.
In 2023 the Times Higher Education (THE) impact rankings place us 34th in the world for universities contributing to SDG 13- Climate Action.
The University of Otago is committed to managing the risks of a changing climate and reducing our own negative environmental impact by reaching Net Carbon Zero by 2030.
This is in addition to the many ways the University deals with climate change through teaching and research. The links below provide a list of papers that include climate change perspectives and a selection of Otago researchers working on this important topic:
- Climate change papers at Otago
- He Kaupapa Hononga, Otago’s Climate Change Research Network
- Centre for Sustainability climate change research
Net Carbon Zero programme
University of Otago has committed to reaching Net Carbon Zero by 2030 by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from our operations by more than half and then offsetting the emissions that we have not been able to eliminate.
To read our annual greenhouse gas emissions reports from 2019 to the present, and learn more about how we are reducing these emissions, visit:
Air travel
Business air travel (flights booked and/or paid for by the University) was the University’s number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, and remains a significant source today.
For more information on how and why to keep air travel emissions low:
Visit Business air travel and greenhouse gas emissions
Climate risk
The climate is changing, and the effects are being felt throughout the world. Aotearoa New Zealand’s tertiary education sector must continue to champion climate mitigation and a fair and just transition for our communities. The sector must also plan for how it can adapt to the impacts of climate change./p>
We are part of a sector-wide project to examine the question: How will climate change impact Aotearoa New Zealand’s tertiary education sector between now and 2100?
Visit this page for more information on our approach to this question and how we are exploring what it means for University of Otago:
Mahi tahi: working together
Climate action requires a whole of system approach and needs us all to work together. Therefore, University of Otago works collaboratively with many areas of local, regional, and national government, as well as NGOs and community groups. This includes the innovative approach of the Zero Carbon Alliance in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
Visit our Mahi tahi page to learn more about how we all work together.