We aim for the highest possible energy performance in our new buildings and retrofits, deeper cuts in energy intensive buildings, maximise solar renewable energy and compensate remaining emissions through carbon removals.
Campus decarbonisation
Prioritise 30% reduction of Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 2030
before considering carbon removals towards Carbon Neutrality
Developing a plan to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions by 2025
Decarbonising our growing campus
Our campus is continuously expanding with new buildings to support research needs, enhanced student life and computing power for generative artificial intelligence. If unabated, our total Greenhouse Gas emissions are expected to rise from 113 ktCO2e in 2019 to 142 ktCO2e (2 ktCO2e - Scope 1, 140 ktCO2e - Scope 2) in 2030 due to increased energy demand to power the new spaces on campus.
Decarbonisation strategies
Our priority is to avoid and reduce energy consumption by designing and operating new buildings to be energy efficient, optimising energy consumption in our existing buildings and replace our electricity with renewable energy.
Strive for best-in-class and high energy performance for new buildings and retrofits from design to operations.
Reduce
energy wastage and optimise for campus-wide efficiency
20 ktCO2e
Reduce
Improve campus wide energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption across building types.
Replace
with renewable energy
32 ktCO2e
79 ktCO2e
Replace
Maximise solar photovoltaic capacity on campus and procure overseas renewable energy.
Neutralise
remaining emissions as a last resort
NEUTRALISE
As a last resort, procure carbon credits and offsets to compensate remaining emissions towards carbon neutrality in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030.
Efforts to beat the rise in emission
To plateau rising campus emissions, we design for best-in-class energy performance in new buildings and retrofits, cut energy consumption in laboratories and are commissioning campus-wide solar panels.
Commissioning campus-wide rooftop solar panels
Optimise energy performance from design to operations
Reduce consumption in our most energy intensive buildings
Commissioning campus-wide rooftop solar panels
Optimise energy performance from design to operations
Growing possibilities using campus grounds for innovation
Towards Singapore’s first net-zero energy cluster
Dynamic control of air conditioning system in lecture theatres
Financing our infrastructure with green bonds
Proceeds from the green bonds were used to fund or re-finance green projects such as installation of solar photovoltaic systems on the rooftops of campus buildings.
NUS was one of the first universities in Asia to launch the Green Finance Framework in 2020.
From 2020 to 2023, $940 million has been raised from the issuance of three green bonds. The proceeds are fully allocated to fund or re-finance green buildings and installation of campus-wide solar panels on campus.
