Master plan for ecological transition: "We all have a part to play"
On November 20, the University of Montpellier's board of directors voted on its master plan for ecological transition. Four areas of focus and 48 actions to reinforce the measures already implemented in recent years at UM and to initiate and coordinate the implementation of an ecological transition policy at each site that matches its ambitions. An overview of this new plan with Frédérique Carcaillet, Vice President for Environmental Issues.
A year ahead of the recommendations of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research the University of Montpellier voted Research the ecological transition master plan (SD TE) at its last board meeting. "We had already begun this process of reflection when, last June, following the climate-biodiversity and ecological transition plan for Higher Education and Research, the ministry's framework note was published asking all universities to develop a master plan by the end of 2024," explains Frédérique Carcaillet, Vice President for Environmental Issues.
Faced with the climate and environmental emergency, and in line with our objectives, resources, and performance contract (ORPC), we have decided to act quickly. We have developed a plan based on four strategic areas, comprising 48 actions to be implemented between 2023 and 2026, which is fully aligned with the institution's 2021-2026 multi-year contract. "We all have a role to play and a part to contribute in this plan," emphasizes Frédérique Carcaillet.
Everyone: sorting, traveling, heating...
Last January, UM adopted an energy efficiency plan (read: Moving toward the best possible balance) aimed at reducing its energy consumption and thus its contribution to climate change."The SD TE plans to support this initiative by conducting a major assessment of the UM's greenhouse gas emissions, an action that has been planned and budgeted for in the COMP," explains the vice president. The actions listed under the heading "Acting for the environment and changing behaviors " extend the numerous energy renovation projects for the university's real estate assets and connections to urban heating networks carried out thanks to the recovery plan, and include the installation of photovoltaic panels.
These measures are complemented by a policy promoting sustainable mobility, with the gradual replacement of the fleet of combustion-engine vehicles with electric ones and the encouragement of cycling and public transport use. A travel charter is expected to be introduced soon to encourage UM staff to choose trains over planes for business travel whenever possible. "Another challenge now will be to raise awareness of digital sobriety by providing information on practices and encouraging the consolidation and rationalization of computer servers, for example."
Another key point in this plan is waste management. For several years now, UM has been organizing the collection and reconditioning of IT equipment and certain office furniture. For everyday waste, sorting bins are available at the various sites, but selective collection needs to be streamlined and standardized. "The bar is set high. We need to map out practices at the UM's various sites and urban areas and work with the various stakeholders to significantly increase our waste sorting for reuse and recycling."
With regard to biodiversity, the SD TE plans to continue the actions already underway on campuses: "zero pesticides, zero watering, late mowing and pruning to encourage the reproduction of insects and birds, which have been severely impacted by the environmental crisis," recalls Frédérique Carcaillet. To help staff and students discover the richness of their campus, biodiversity workshops have been planned so that everyone can "discover the common biodiversity of everyday life, participate in the effort to inventory, monitor, and promote it. By opening our eyes to our environment, we discover it differently, and this is a first step toward its preservation."
Students: training, online resources, and experimental wind turbine
The Education and Training axis follows directly on from the ministry's framework document forundergraduate students and comprises 11 actions. These include the requirement for all university departments, schools, and institutes to implement training modules on ecological transition for sustainable development (TEDS). An educational engineer will be recruited, trainers will be trained, and training content will be made available via the UM's Moodle platform. "All students and staff will be able to access the resources of the virtual university for the environment and development , of which we are a founding member along with other universities, observatories, and research institutes. They will find courses in the form of texts and videos, as well as exercises, practical cases, bibliographies, and more," explains the vice president.
Technology demonstrators will also be installed on campuses to get students actively involved. Frédérique Carcaillet mentions the possibility of installing environmental sensors on campuses, or even a miniature wind turbine or experimental solar panels "to measure not only electricity production, but also the environmental and societal costs and benefits associated with these devices." The creation of an OpenBadge allowing students to highlight their community and civic engagement will be tested in the formof"a certification that they can add to their CV."
Staff: better training in laboratories and offices
It should be noted that general group training courses will be offered to UM staff who wish to learn about energy transition issues. Specific training courses related to the challenges of their profession will also be offered. Research structures will be included in the second area entitled Research Innovation.
"One of the main objectives of this initiative is to encourage research laboratories to assess the impact of their activities on the environment, taking into account business travel, resource consumption, purchases, etc. Some laboratories are already very committed to this approach, and we will invite them to share their best practices with laboratories that are less advanced," announced the vice president. To this end, the adoption of the approach taken by the Labo 1.5 research group, supported by the CNRS, INRAE, ADEME, INRIA, and Sorbonne University, will be encouraged, and the available indicators will be provided to laboratories.
Increasing interaction between science and society by disseminating information more effectively and widely is the second objective of this focus area. "This dissemination of knowledge is already well structured and implemented within the UM, but we need to place greater emphasis on topics related to ecological transition in order to support the necessary behavioral changes," emphasizes Frédérique Carcaillet.
Governance: promoting responsible business practices
Since 2022, UM's energy transition policy has been implemented across the board by the Vice-Presidency for Environmental Issues in conjunction with all other vice-presidencies and university departments. A dedicated office has been created within the Steering Department to support UM's ecological transition process. Its implementation will soon be supported by a network of advisors trained in ecological transition. "We would like each department, service, faculty, institute, school, and laboratory to have its own advisor whose role will be to circulate information and ideas and coordinate various actions with the aim of encouraging greater buy-in from everyone," suggests Frédérique Carcaillet.
Those involved in spending, who are already highly aware of the issue, will be encouraged to develop a policy for purchasing sustainable goods and services by increasing the integration of environmental criteria in the selection of contracts and bids (see Mechanisms: Projecting an economic and social context). Adopting this approach also involves a desire to obtain certification in order to commit to continuous improvement by regularly assessing the relevance of the actions taken.
"With its identity deeply rooted in the goal of addressing future environmental and societal challenges, its position as a global leader in ecology in the Shanghai ranking, and its position as the French leader in The Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, which measures commitment and performance in terms of sustainable development (read Shanghai, Leinden, Reuters: UM at the top of international rankings), the University needed to adopt a master plan for ecological transition that matched its ambitions. This has now been done, the path has been laid out, and now it's a matter of moving quickly and effectively in the right direction," concludes the vice president!