Over a third of higher education institutions across the UK have committed to Net Zero or reduction targets for their Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Inadequate funding, complex regulations and ageing infrastructure, however, risk delays at a time when the UK's education sector already experiences operational deficiencies.

With Net Zero estimated to cost £48.3 billion, institutions need a clear vision, a thorough understanding of available funding and informed decision-making to pursue their targets. Though the £6.7 billion that was allocated to the Department for Education at the end of 2024 will play a part in decarbonising educational institutions, a funding gap remains.

Luckily, further and higher education institutions are well poised to leverage their experience in collaboration, research, and innovation to support their own Net Zero ambitions.

Collaboration unlocks new opportunities

School and university buildings account for 36% of total UK public sector building emissions, meaning reducing this footprint will help the UK meet its Net Zero by 2050 target. Often, educational institutions lack the internal capacity or specialist expertise to plan, let alone implement, a decarbonisation strategy and the wide variety of tasks that come with it, such as retrofitting buildings, reducing waste, engaging with the supply chain and promoting campus biodiversity.

While a dedicated sustainability lead is invaluable, financial restraints often make this role out of reach. Yet, sharing resources and expertise presents a practical solution. Three colleges in Scotland, for example, overcame this hurdle by utilising a shared services model, combining their costs and time for a shared sustainability lead. This approach allowed them to access valuable knowledge and increase their capabilities for advancing strategic projects.

Such a shared services model can enhance efficiencies across multiple institutions through joint procurement, collective funding applications and knowledge and process sharing. In this case, the colleges used the extra resources to benchmark their progress toward Net Zero and successfully apply for Scottish Green Public Sector Estates Decarbonisation Scheme funding, showcasing the effectiveness of collaboration in progressing sustainability objectives.

Sustainability as an academic opportunity

The strong commitment of both students and staff to sustainability places institutions in a prime position to foster innovation and change. Estates, academic staff and students can be brought together to bridge knowledge gaps or provide support when resources are constrained. For example:

• Engineering students can gain hands-on experience in energy and carbon efficiency by supporting estate teams in monitoring energy use and targeting.
• Marketing and communication teams could design and run behaviour change campaigns that encourage reduced energy consumption and waste across campus.
• Architecture, landscape or design students could bring in ideas for retrofitting or green building designs like green walls.

This Living Labs model transforms an institution into a classroom, supporting staff and student development while achieving real-world carbon reductions. The collaborative approach offers distinctive benefits and can drive significant progress within an institution and – when knowledge is shared – between institutions.

A plan for Net Zero jobs and skills

Capitalising on staff’s existing skills and enthusiasm, and knowing where the gaps lie, can help support the long-term goal of Net Zero. The first step should be to assess the current skills and knowledge using a skills planning tool to identify any gaps.

• Retaining staff with the necessary skills is essential, so fostering a culture of action and ambition can support and empower these individuals; having a member of senior leadership as a sustainability champion can help with this.
• Retraining is the next step to enhance the skills base where gaps are identified. This could entail carbon literacy training for staff and the senior leadership team or more in-depth, low carbon technical training for key operational staff. Supporting staff development in this way can also help with retention.
• In some cases, recruiting new skills is needed to fulfil key activities. This could involve creating a dedicated sustainability manager role with the desired skills; even a part-time or shared resource would bring invaluable expertise.
• Resourcing external skills for specialised tasks can also be considered. For example, architects with experience in low carbon design for new buildings, or external consultants for one-off projects such as retrofits of older buildings.

Despite funding and resource barriers, collaboration within the education sector can advance Net Zero plans and develop green skills. With innovative approaches and effective planning, educational institutions can lead the transition to a sustainable future, engaging students and preparing them for the challenges ahead.

The Cities and Regions team at the Carbon Trust work exclusively with public sector organisations in their Net Zero transition. We have worked with over 75% of higher education institutions in the UK and can support you from strategy to implementation based on our experience of what works on the ground. Contact us for more information.