A lack of vision
On Tuesday the Vice Chancellor spoke against continuing the University's commitment to purchasing green electricity. This is not a position to be congratulated.
At a time when visionary policies in the UK and Europe are at the forefront of promoting and developing renewable energy sources as a viable alternative to conventional fuels, it is extremely disappointing that Oxford cannot bring itself to support the visionary and is instead resorting to the ordinary.
It seems the justification is that great catch-all of "financial reasons". For this to be put forward as the sole reason for this change in University policy is symptomatic of a lack of vision. The financial imperative could be easily met through long term measures such as building improvements - simple, cost effective measures such as energy efficient appliances and insulation that easily pay for themselves - yet such long term financial solutions are prevented by inflexibility within the University that favours short-term cost cutting over long-term cost effective solutions.
The University has much to gain from its commitment to supporting a low carbon vision. As the seventh largest consumer of green electricity in Europe, and the largest single academic purchaser of green electricity, Oxford has raised its profile in the key field of energy policy. This is no empty claim - in 2004 the University became a key player in the United Kingdom Energy Research Centre, a multi-disciplinary, multi-million pound venture to seek out a visionary pathway for the UK to achieve its goal of a low carbon economy. The double standard of carrying out such research while at the same time abandoning its own measures to address energy emissions is not hard to spot - a similar hypocrisy was the source of much negative publicity for the UK Met Office recently, and Oxford would do well to heed this message.
Closer to home, the University's Environmental Policy has publicly committed the University to achieving a 20 per cent reduction in emissions over 1990 levels. There is no doubt that abandoning its green energy policy will make achieving this objective even more difficult.
That this policy change was signalled without any similar announcement of improved environmental requirements in other areas again suggests a lack of vision. There is a clear need for coherent decision-making that will support the Environmental Policy and achieve its targets.
This debate is, of course, about much more than the University's choice of electricity supplier. Emissions from electricity generation are a major contributor to increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, and Oxford University is uniquely positioned to understand the consequences of these emissions. The United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme, part of Oxford University, is at the forefront of assessing the climatic changes facing the UK over the coming years and decades, and provides policy-makers the world over with ground-breaking research into the impacts climate change and the human, ecosystem and financial costs that these changes will force on the UK.
By reversing its green electricity policy, the University is ignoring this wealth of knowledge and experience within its own walls.
Oxford University deserves a vision for its environmental policies that goes beyond the next financial years' accounts.
Politicians and policy makers throughout Europe are seeking out visionary solutions to pressing energy and environmental questions, and Oxford University has an enormous contribution to make not just in the short term, but for the benefit of people and the planet far into the future.
Furthermore, Oxford University has a duty to demonstrate leadership through supporting research, and a responsibility for acting on the findings of this research - as a flagship academic institution, Oxford does not need the reputation risk associated with this policy change.
What is needed now is for the University to have the vision to support this work with both words and action. Purchasing green electricity is a real solution available now, with a long term payback in reputation, influence and responsibility that far exceeds any short term cost saving.
20th Jan 2005