Carbon at LSE
LSE is a large, energy-intensive university located in central London. Reducing carbon emissions in a dense urban environment is challenging, but it is also essential.
Our approach focuses on cutting emissions where we have direct control, particularly from buildings and energy use, while being transparent about the emissions that are harder to address. This reflects the real-world challenges faced by cities and institutions globally.
Our approach
We aim to reduce LSE’s carbon emissions as far and as fast as practicable, while continuing to support teaching, research and student life.
Our focus is on:
Where our emissions come from
LSE’s carbon footprint includes:
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Scope 3: indirect emissions such as travel, commuting, water, waste and purchased goods and services
While Scope 3 emissions make up a large part of our overall footprint, LSE prioritises action on Scope 1 and 2, where we have the greatest ability to make direct reductions.
What we’re working towards
LSE’s carbon targets are currently under review, with updated targets due to be published for the 2026/27 academic year.
This review is intended to ensure future targets remain aligned with climate science and reflect the changing regulatory and operational context for higher education.
While this work is underway, reducing emissions remains a core institutional priority.
How we reduce emissions
Carbon reductions at LSE are driven primarily through:
Since 2015, LSE has invested £4.8 million in energy efficiency measures, which underpin the reductions achieved to date.
Managing emissions we cannot yet avoid
Some emissions cannot currently be eliminated. LSE’s approach is to manage these responsibly while prioritising direct carbon reductions on campus.
LSE purchases electricity from 100% renewable generation, meaning emissions associated with purchased electricity are mitigated at source.
LSE previously supported high-quality carbon mitigation projects through an external partner. This programme has been paused, and funding raised through the carbon levy on business travel booked via LSE’s Travel Management Company is now directed towards direct decarbonisation measures across the estate.
This approach reflects LSE’s current priority to reduce emissions at source wherever possible, while recognising the important role that well-governed carbon markets can play globally in addressing climate change and climate justice, a focus of ongoing research and teaching at LSE.
What can I do?
Most carbon reductions at LSE come from institutional decisions about buildings, energy and travel. Individual actions matter most where they intersect with high-impact activities, particularly travel and energy use.
You can support this by:
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making lower-carbon choices in shared activities, such as events, meetings and catering, where options are already provided
These actions reinforce institutional efforts by reducing demand in the areas that contribute most to LSE’s carbon footprint.
Research and teaching at LSE
LSE is internationally recognised for research and teaching that examine climate change as a social, economic and political challenge, including the causes and consequences of carbon emissions.
Academic work at LSE explores topics such as climate governance, carbon markets, climate finance, and the links between emissions, inequality and climate justice. This research provides critical insight into how carbon reduction and climate policy play out globally, particularly across different regions and communities.
Transparency and reporting
LSE publishes carbon data annually through its sustainability and financial reporting.
Links to detailed methodologies, carbon inventories and historic reports are available for those who want to explore the data in more depth.