Otago University’s Sustainability Office is extending an invite to students for support and feedback as it drives towards ‘Net Carbon Zero’ by 2030. The office is looking to expand its efforts through several engagement sessions with students that aim to reflexively inform and
University hopes the climate will wait for them to get their shit together
Otago Uni approved a Carbon Zero Programme in 2019, but did not hire a staff member to work on it until last month. The programme was first proposed in 2018.
“The programme business case, including a road map to carbon zero, will be created approved and well underway by the end of 2021,” said Otago’s Sustainability Office Head, Ray O’Brien. He explained that “Covid impacted the recruitment of the Programme Manager.”
“We’re in the middle of a climate crisis, yet Otago is not going to have their climate plan ready until the end of this year, three years on from its proposal,” said surveying student Jett Gannaway from climate organisation Generation Zero. “Covid-19 should not be used as an excuse for inaction. It’s an opportunity for Otago to reset and transition away from carbon intensive practices for good.”