Our carbon reduction plan
We are committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040.
Download the pdf version of our carbon reduction plan.
Last updated: November 2025
Commitment to achieving Net Zero
We are committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the government target. All emissions reported and future plans include the entities under our financial control (Jisc Services Limited and Jisc Commercial Limited).
Baseline emissions footprint
Baseline emissions are a record of the greenhouse gases that have been produced in the past and were produced prior to the introduction of any strategies to reduce emissions. Baseline emissions are the reference point against which emissions reduction can be measured.
Baseline year: to 31 July 2024
Additional details relating to the baseline emissions calculations
We began collecting emissions data in accordance with the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirement for our financial year ending 31 July 2020. 2023/24 has been used as a baseline comparison year due to an increase in data collected across scope 1 and scope 3 leased assets.
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 7.20 |
| Scope 2 | 13.39 |
| Scope 3 (included sources) | Waste generation: 0.17 Business travel: 638.47 Employee commuting: 69.98 Downstream transportation: 7.01 Scope 3 total: 715.63 |
| Total emissions | 736.22 |
Current emissions reporting
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 5.65 |
| Scope 2 | 11.42 |
| Scope 3 (included sources) | Waste generation: 0.12 Business travel: 473.98 Employee commuting: 180.72 Downstream transportation: 7.49 Scope 3 total: 662.31 |
| Total emissions | 679.38 |
Emissions from natural gas (scope 1) and purchased electricity (scope 2) have decreased.
This year we have expanded our waste generation data to include our London office. We have seen a significant increase in employee commuting data which reflects a recalculation of data, rather than a rise in commuting activity. Following a change in travel provider, we have improved the accuracy of the data collected for our business travel, which shows a decrease across all transport modes with the majority of journeys made by rail.
Our full carbon footprint report can be found in our annual sustainability report.
Emissions reduction targets
We have made the commitment to be net zero by 2040. This includes emissions in scope, including gas, electricity, business travel and staff commuting. We will be net zero across our remaining scope 3 emissions, including our supply chain, transport and distribution, waste and electrical use of our leased assets by 2050.
Carbon reduction projects
Completed carbon reduction initiatives
The following environmental management measures and projects have been completed or implemented during our reporting year, August 2024 – July 2025:
- Verified our carbon data to ISO14064 standard
- Started work on our 2-year sustainability impact and monitoring programme which includes a workstream focused on Net Zero
- Initiated work on our Environmental Management System which is aligned to our existing quality and information management systems
- Published our new sustainability strategy
- Rebaselined our scope 3 GHG emissions, reflecting improved accuracy in scope 3 employee commuting
- Reduced our natural gas and electricity usage in our Portwall Lane office by 8.27% from the previous reporting year
- Recycled 151 pieces of IT kit and renewed 76 pieces for new life
- Offered new digital sustainability workshops to the sector
- Published a digital sustainability learning module for our members
- Delivered a Stickerbook pilot with internal staff
Planned carbon reduction initiatives
Over the next 12 months we plan to expand our new approach to sustainability across the organisation by undertaking the following:
- Publish our sustainability policy and social value impact report
- Develop an Energy Policy
- Certify our Environmental Management System to ISO14001 standard
- Work towards creating a methodology for calculating the GHG emissions associated with the operation of the Janet network
- Create a methodology to calculate the GHG emissions and sustainability impact of our key products and services
- Assess our climate risks and opportunities
- Launch Stickerbook and a sustainability training module for staff
- Complete a supply chain analysis to identify top products/suppliers for GHG emission contribution
- Deliver further digital sustainability workshops to the sector
- Continue to promote and showcase best practice sustainability initiatives alongside industry and the FE and HE sectors
Declaration and sign off
This carbon reduction plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for carbon reduction plans.
Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for carbon reduction plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard and uses the appropriate government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting.
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions have been reported (where available) in accordance with the published reporting standard for carbon reduction plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard.
This carbon reduction plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).
This statement was signed on behalf of Heidi Fraser-Krauss, trustee and chief executive, Jisc. Date: 28 October 2025.