Challenges and Insights from Pioneer Higher Education Institutions Utilising Carbon Roadmap
Fung, Pak Lun (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121034323
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121034323
Tiivistelmä
This study aims to identify the challenges experienced by pioneer higher education institutions (HEIs), specifically those developing carbon neutrality roadmaps in four focus areas—conceptualisation, implementation, quantification and compensation. In addition, it also aims to identify the approaches and lessons learned from such institutions that could be used to help other institutions in the earlier stages of their own journey to carbon neutrality.
Qualitative thematic research was employed to support the methodology of this study through semi-structured interviews with practitioners working on sustainability in pioneering universities and utilizing inductive thematic analysis in conjunction with existing scholarly and institutional literature. The qualitative design allowed for the exploration of both the systemic aspects of sustainability (governance, resource allocation, stakeholder engagement), as well as the lived experiences of practitioners as they developed carbon neutrality roadmaps.
Despite the reported successes of many pioneering HEIs, the findings of this study indicate that numerous, long-standing barriers continue to hinder institutions' ability to create effective carbon neutrality roadmaps, including conceptual ambiguity surrounding what constitutes 'carbon neutrality' fragmentation within institutional governance structures, resource constraints, and methodological difficulties associated with accurately quantifying emissions. While compensation mechanisms may be viewed as a necessity by some, the use of such mechanisms is highly controversial and will require careful governance and transparency to ensure fair use.
Additionally, despite the presence of numerous challenges, the findings also suggest that there are a number of successful pioneering institutions that have made incremental progress toward creating effective carbon neutrality roadmaps, have engaged their stakeholders in inclusive processes, and have established realistic yet ambitious carbon reduction targets.
Recommendations tailored to the specific needs of Lapland UAS include: building a reliable footprinting system, accepting imperfections, thinking beyond carbon, focusing on high‑impact actions, mobilising the community, using offsets cautiously, and communicating transparently.
More broadly, the results of this study contribute to the growing body of literature addressing the issue of carbon neutrality in HEIs by emphasizing the importance of practitioner perspectives, and providing actionable guidance based on the experiences of small or novice institutions seeking to establish carbon neutral roadmaps.
Qualitative thematic research was employed to support the methodology of this study through semi-structured interviews with practitioners working on sustainability in pioneering universities and utilizing inductive thematic analysis in conjunction with existing scholarly and institutional literature. The qualitative design allowed for the exploration of both the systemic aspects of sustainability (governance, resource allocation, stakeholder engagement), as well as the lived experiences of practitioners as they developed carbon neutrality roadmaps.
Despite the reported successes of many pioneering HEIs, the findings of this study indicate that numerous, long-standing barriers continue to hinder institutions' ability to create effective carbon neutrality roadmaps, including conceptual ambiguity surrounding what constitutes 'carbon neutrality' fragmentation within institutional governance structures, resource constraints, and methodological difficulties associated with accurately quantifying emissions. While compensation mechanisms may be viewed as a necessity by some, the use of such mechanisms is highly controversial and will require careful governance and transparency to ensure fair use.
Additionally, despite the presence of numerous challenges, the findings also suggest that there are a number of successful pioneering institutions that have made incremental progress toward creating effective carbon neutrality roadmaps, have engaged their stakeholders in inclusive processes, and have established realistic yet ambitious carbon reduction targets.
Recommendations tailored to the specific needs of Lapland UAS include: building a reliable footprinting system, accepting imperfections, thinking beyond carbon, focusing on high‑impact actions, mobilising the community, using offsets cautiously, and communicating transparently.
More broadly, the results of this study contribute to the growing body of literature addressing the issue of carbon neutrality in HEIs by emphasizing the importance of practitioner perspectives, and providing actionable guidance based on the experiences of small or novice institutions seeking to establish carbon neutral roadmaps.