In 2020, ANU announced the Below Zero Initiative, which aims to transition the University from a source of GHG emissions to a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, to share learnings and provide leadership and solutions for climate action. 

Throughout the year, the Below Zero team has been conducting scoping and pilot exercises informing detailed plans to scale up ANU action from 2023 onwards. Key activities have included:  

Emissions reductions  

• Piloting the electrification of individual building heating infrastructure from gas-fired boilers to electrical heat pumps.   
• Developing the Acton Campus Infrastructure Decarbonisation Masterplan, which aims to electrify the campus heating/cooling infrastructure at scale.   
• Developing an ANU energy dashboard to provide visualisations of energy consumption on all ANU campuses and sites.  
• Developing Guidelines for Low Carbon Travel and piloting the use of GHG calculators to improve awareness of the emissions footprint of travel.   

Emissions removal  

• Developing ANU Principles for Carbon Removal to drive future activities.   
• Scoping and early development of partnerships with landowners and projects for carbon dioxide removal on ANU sites, including at Warramunga Station (NT) and Kioloa (NSW)  

Engagement  

• Piloting the ANU Green Impact initiative, encouraging staff and students to reduce emissions and take climate action on campus.  
• Hosting a Global Alliance of Universities on Climate members workshop, focussed on decarbonisation of infrastructure and reducing travel emissions.   
• Hosting students through College of Business and Economics Internships. In 2022 students worked on projects across travel, ESG frameworks, the Australian carbon credit market and electric vehicle infrastructure.