Uni meets zero emissions target

A PLEDGE made by La Trobe University to reduce carbon emissions at their regional campuses has been achieved.

In 2019 the university committed $75 million to become carbon neutral at their Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, and Shepparton locations.

The initial target was to achieve net zero emissions by 2029, however a spokesperson said La Trobe reached the goal in just three years.

Pro-vice chancellor Associate Professor Melanie Bish said she was proud of the innovation displayed by La Trobe.

“We have given ourselves 10 years to make the university carbon neutral and reaching net-zero across all of our regional campuses within three years is a testament to our leadership in this space,” she said.

“La Trobe has a long and proud history of pursuing sustainable practices and we are committed to being sustainable today and into the future.

“In addition to the environmental benefits, we anticipate substantial long-term cost savings as a result of these sustainable measures that have been implemented.”

The university’s Bendigo campus is one of last to achieve carbon neutral status.

La Trobe reported that energy consumption had been reduced at the Bendigo site by 40 per cent and at least 30 per cent of the electricity is derived from renewable sources located on campus.

The Bendigo campus is home to La Trobe’s flagship fully electric building as well as 3785 solar panels.

The latest addition to La Trobe’s Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campuses are the new electric vehicle chargers, which are free for community, and La Trobe staff and students to use.