UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

UPES report · 4. Managing and reducing carbon

4Managing and reducing carbon

UPES follows a structured process to measure, manage and reduce its carbon emissions.

Impact

UPES has set public targets to cut its emissions and a clear plan to meet them.

20–25%cut in total emissions by 2030
30–40%of electricity from renewables by 2030
2060net-zero target, a decade ahead of India's 2070 goal
  • Carbon management follows the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064.
  • The RISE Centre's Climate Action Plan sets out solar, efficiency, cleaner fuels and better tracking.
  • Carbon management. Following the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064, UPES measures its carbon footprint regularly, sets reduction targets, and cuts CO₂ through energy efficiency, renewable energy, less diesel generator use and electric vehicles, reporting progress periodically.

The RISE Centre

UPES set up the RISE (Research on Impact, Sustainability and ESG) Centre with Aspire Impact in September 2024 to lead its work on climate change and carbon neutrality. It works through three pillars:Source: RISE Centre at UPES

The RISE Center page on the UPES website: Research on Impact, Sustainability and ESG
Screenshot: RISE Center page, UPES website.
  • Sustainability Projects: measuring UPES's impact, setting net-zero targets, running the Climate Action Plan and building a live Green Dashboard.
  • Environment Education: including the ESG, Sustainability and Impact Specialist Programme, run with Mahindra University and Aspire Impact, which trains mid- and senior-level professionals to lead net-zero and circular-economy transitions in their organisations.Source: Executive education programmes for ESG leaders (UPES blog)
    UPES blog page on executive education programmes for ESG and impact leaders
    Screenshot: UPES blog, executive education programmes for ESG leaders.
  • Aspire Circle Fellowship: nurturing young leaders in sustainability and ESG.

UPES has also received the Gold Leaf certification from Aspire Impact, becoming the first university in India to complete a standards-based impact assessment with full Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas accounting, with Platinum-level performance in emissions management.Source: UPES earns Gold sustainability impact certification (GUS news)

GUS news article: UPES becomes first Indian university to earn Gold sustainability impact certification, 20 April 2026
Screenshot: Global University Systems news, 20 April 2026.

Climate Action Plan

The RISE (Research, Impact, Sustainability and ESG) Centre's Climate Action Plan sets out a phased path to net zero. Purchased electricity makes up 55.3% of emissions, commuting and procurement 40.7%, and direct fuel use 4%.

Planned actions include:

  • More solar. Expand rooftop solar from 100 kW to 300–400 kW, and buy renewable power through purchase agreements or certificates.
  • Efficient buildings. Upgrade lighting and HVAC with smart controls and more efficient units.
  • Cleaner fuels and transport. Replace LPG with biogas and bio-CNG, electrify campus service vehicles and promote greener commuting.
  • Better tracking. Report greenhouse gases every year, pilot an internal carbon price, track Scope 3 emissions more fully and adopt sustainable procurement.
  • Offsetting the rest. Invest in regional afforestation to neutralise emissions that cannot be avoided.

A Climate Action Task Force of senior leaders, academics, operations staff and students oversees the plan, and the RISE Centre is building a live Green Dashboard to report progress.