Higher education institutions in the UK often focus on estate-based carbon reductions and incremental progress. However, this approach ignores the broader environmental polycrisis, including biodiversity loss and chemical pollution, while overlooking the massive impact of supply chains and travel emissions. To create a real impact, universities need to shift from damage limitation to regenerative action. This includes setting tough carbon budgets based on IPCC recommendations and integrating long-term climate risks into strategic financial planning to ensure institutional survival in a warming world.
