Top-ranked international business school Esade announced a major milestone in its climate sustainability efforts, achieving scope 1 and scope 2 carbon neutrality and reducing its emissions by 84 percent since 2019. Esade credits its results to a comprehensive reduction and offset strategy that reduced its carbon footprint more efficiently and effectively than a traditional offset approach.
“This milestone reveals that the education sector can co-lead the path towards a more environmentally responsible future. This not only has a positive impact on our institution, but also sends a clear message to society and the academic world about the urgent need for decarbonization,” said Cristina Giménez, professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management and director of Mission and Impact at Esade, in their press release.
It’s important to understand what each scope of emissions means to grasp the magnitude of Esade’s achievement. Scope 1 emissions are those from sources an organization owns or controls such as fuel for vehicle fleets and production facilities. Scope 2 covers emissions caused indirectly and are primarily from where the energy used is produced. Scope 3 emissions are much more difficult to reduce as they’re indirect emissions generated by an organization’s use of suppliers and service providers.
To become carbon neutral, Esade installed solar panels on its Barcelona and Madrid campuses, sourced green energy, modernized equipment to increase energy efficiency, and optimized their waste management systems for sustainability. The school also ran campaigns to raise awareness about responsible consumption
Esade participated in high-impact projects to offset carbon emissions, including two reforestation projects: the Mijares Project in Spain and the CIKEL Project in Pará, Brazil. In addition, the Voluntary Emissions Offset Program of the Generalitat de Catalunya allows the school to buy further reductions to offset emissions through projects carried out by NGOs, community organizations, and other non-profits.
Esade is embracing a collaborative role in sustainability at educational institutions, recently joining AERO (Alliance for Environmental Responsibility in Business Schools), the first European network of business schools dedicated to decarbonization. Led by Vlerick Business School, the initiative currently includes eight academic institutions working together to achieve carbon neutrality, exchange good practices, and promote sustainability.
