Client:: Oxford University Gardens, Libraries and Museums

The Objective

To develop a carbon baseline, decarbonisation strategy and detailed implementation plans across seven departments and over 50 buildings.

Case Study

3ADAPT have been working with Oxford University Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) since early 2023 to develop the first iteration of their carbon baseline across scopes 1,2 and 3, explore net zero carbon targets and produce a decarbonisation strategy. The work was carried out over three phases, the first being focused on the Ashmolean Museum, developing a comprehensive understanding of their operations and organisational governance before rolling the work out across the Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of Natural History, History of Science Museum, Botanic Gardens and Arboretum and the Divisional Office. The final phase of the project focused on the Bodleian Libraries, the largest of the seven departments.

Whilst each department required a unique approach, 3ADAPT facilitated significant collaboration throughout the project, enabling identification of shared learnings, opportunities and constraints.

In order to develop the first comprehensive quantification of the carbon baseline for each GLAM department, 3ADAPT engaged with over 40 stakeholders in order to understand the operations and boundaries of the departments. The baseline quantified emissions across scopes 1, 2 and 3 for the seven departments and over 50 buildings. This involved a significant mapping exercise to understand building use and identify the proportion of each building occupied by each department in order to apportion emissions. It also required the quantification of complex emission sources such as visitor travel, object travel, exhibitions, and events using bespoke approaches to estimate emissions from datasets of varying quality and completeness.

“3ADAPT have been a joy to work with. They are experienced, knowledgeable and insightful. For us, their tried and tested people-centred approach and methodology set them apart from the competition. The workshops, communications, and reports prepared by 3ADAPT during our project have been clear and compelling and have resulted in widespread engagement with the project.”

— Rachel Davis, Head of Operations Ashmolean Museum

3ADAPT ran a significant programme of workshops, focus groups and one-to-one sessions to explore target setting and the pros and cons of different approaches such as Science Based Targets with key stakeholders across GLAM. Workshops and focus groups were also used to explore decarbonisation opportunities across each emissions source, taking into account the unique opportunities and constraints of each department as well as the wider context of the University's own initiatives and GLAM's level of ownership and influence. Decarbonisation scenarios were modelled to reflect the impact of GLAM-led interventions as well as external forces of decarbonisation, such as the uptake of renewable energy and electrification of transport across the UK.

Through further engagement, the decarbonisation pathways were translated into clear implementation plans for each department that set out key actions over the following 1-2 years. The plans included identification of action ownership and key opportunities and risks, providing the client with a clear set of next steps.