Climate Action (SDG 13)

SDG 13 calls on institutions to cut their emissions, prepare for climate hazards and help others do the same. At O.P. Jindal Global University, climate action is one of the three pillars of the Office of Sustainability, and it shapes how the campus is powered, moved, planted, taught and measured.

The progress report below sets out JGU's work against SDG 13 for 2025–26. The associated pages describe the plans, data and partnerships behind it.

SDG 13: Climate Action|Sustainable Development Goals: Progress Report | Reporting Year 2025–26

1. Introduction & Institutional Commitment

Sustainability is one of O.P. Jindal Global University's (JGU) five core values, and climate action is one of the three pillars of the Office of Sustainability, alongside Sustainability and Impact. The Office, conceived in 2024 under the Dean of Academic Governance, organises its climate work around behavioural responses, climate resilience, the energy transition, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and green buildings.

This report presents JGU's progress, key initiatives, and impact under SDG 13 across the following targets: 13.1 (strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards), 13.2 (integrate climate change measures into policies, strategies and planning) and 13.3 (improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change).

2. Key Figures at a Glance

Headline indicators for SDG 13.

Indicator	This Year (2025)	Previous Year (2024)	Target / Benchmark
On-site solar generation (kWh)	2,556,308.4	1,182,486.4	More than 100% growth in one year; >200% over two years; 2.4 MW installed on-site solar PV
Emissions avoided by solar (tCO₂e)	2,096.2	Not reported	Grid emission factor 0.82 kg CO₂e/kWh (CEA, Government of India)
Overall GHG emissions, Scope 1 + 2 (tCO₂e)	Lowest of 2023–2025	45% lower than 2023	GHG Protocol standard; net zero goal; Scope 3 quantification in progress
Share of vehicle fleet that is electric	35% increase	Not reported (40+ EVs; 15 charging stations)	100% of campus golf carts fossil-fuel free
Emissions avoided by electric golf carts (tCO₂e)	60.706 t CO2 e		Benchmarked against a petrol fleet (8 L/100 km; 2.31 kg CO₂e/L)
CO₂ avoided by paperless exams (tonnes)	46.08 direct (AY 2025–26)	Pen-and-paper exams	16,000 students across 12 schools
CO₂ stored in campus vegetation (tonnes)	≈1,713.49	725.74 tCO₂e sequestered	12,000+ trees on an 85-acre campus
Cross-electives mapped to SDG 13	15	22	Out of 350+ SDG cross-electives offered each year
SDG 13 share of JGU scholarly output	≈5%	≈5%	World share ≈2%

3. Research Progress

4. Policy & Governance

Climate action at JGU is governed through the Office of Sustainability's Climate Action pillar (behavioural responses, climate resilience, energy transition, GHG emissions reduction and green building) and applied across the 85-acre residential campus, which serves a community of over 20,000 people. Operational policies cited in data include the University-wide Vehicular Movement Policy (extended to third-party vendors with no exceptions) and the No Plastic Use Policy. Emissions are reported under the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. The JGU Climate Action Plan 2025 brings the main measures together.

Policy objectives:

• Measure, report and reduce institutional GHG emissions in line with the GHG Protocol, working towards a net zero emissions goal.
• Accelerate the energy transition through energy efficiency, expanded on-campus solar generation and reduced reliance on grid electricity and fossil fuels.
• Electrify campus mobility and reduce vehicle use, lowering Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions.
• Strengthen campus climate resilience through nature-based solutions: green cover, groundwater recharge, drought-resistant planting and clean-air measures.
• Embed climate literacy and research in the curriculum, staff training and community engagement.

Oversight & responsibility:

JGU is committed to achieving the objectives presented by the Office of Sustainability, conceived in 2024 under Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean of Academic Governance. The Office is composed entirely of JGU alumni with expertise in sustainability and environmental science, legal studies and international relations, business and analytics, liberal arts, and public policy and governance. Environmental performance is independently verified through three external audits (energy, environment and green) required by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and the Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability (JSES) leads climate-related research and teaching.

5. Progress Against Targets

SDG 13 comprises three outcome targets relevant to a university context (13.1–13.3). Two further targets (13.a and 13.b) are noted for completeness. Target wording follows the United Nations.

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

JGU's 85-acre campus acts as a natural carbon sink, with 12,000+ trees, 98 species of trees and shrubs and 42 bird species. To protect the community from severe regional air pollution linked to stubble burning, vehicular emissions and adverse weather, JGU procured 3,300 HEPA air purifiers and deployed anti-smog guns, outdoor air purifiers and N95 masks, with the Health Centre providing 24/7 emergency support. Water resilience is built through 67 rainwater recharge pits and landscaping that uses only treated wastewater for irrigation, with 152,140 native, drought-resistant trees and shrubs. A Campus Carbon Mapping & Digital Tree Tagging initiative (QR codes integrated with iNaturalist) is creating JGU's first Digital Tree Database to support biodiversity conservation and carbon tracking 

Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

JGU accounts for its emissions under the GHG Protocol, having calculated Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for calendar year 2025, with Scope 3 quantification in progress; overall emissions declined between 2023 and 2025. On-site solar generation more than doubled from 1,182,486.4 kWh in 2024 to 2,556,308.4 kWh in 2025, avoiding approximately 2,096.2 tCO₂e. Mobility policy is a major lever: 100% of campus golf carts are fossil-fuel free, 35% of the vehicle fleet is electric, a free employee shuttle reduces personal vehicle use, and the no-vehicle policy extends to third-party vendors. An external energy audit found grid electricity consumption fell despite a growing campus population, and certified that JGU's energy-saving initiatives are well-implemented and noteworthy.

Key initiatives:

• Renewable energy: new solar PV commissioned at Gate 1, Gate 2 and the Naveen Jindal Sports Academy, adding to rooftop arrays on hostels, academic buildings and the Vidya Devi Jindal Dining Block.
• Sustainable mobility: 20 electric golf carts (serving 9,000 students daily, avoiding approx. 60.706 tCO₂e), 30 electric bikes, 15 EV charging points and wheelchair-accessible electric carts; 48% of on-campus vehicle operators are women.
• Energy efficiency: 100% LED lighting (est. 50–80% reduction), BLDC fans (50–65%), occupancy sensors and intelligent controls (20–30%), VRV air-conditioning (15–40%) and Kingspan Quadcore insulated panels (up to 20% of HVAC load).
• Paperless examinations: AI-enabled, computer-based proctored exams for 16,000 students across 12 schools in AY 2025–26.
• Waste-related emissions: an Organic Waste Converter composts food waste and avoids methane, and collection drives recover e-waste, paper and textiles.

Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

The Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability (JSES) offers degree programmes that include climate change mitigation and adaptation, climate science and climate risk assessment, and the Jindal Global Law School offers an LL.M. in Environmental Law, Energy & Climate Change. Of 350+ SDG cross-electives offered each year, 15 are mapped to SDG 13. Two Coursera MOOCs reached 1,833 enrolments, and JGU was the first university in Asia to offer Sulitest's TASK sustainability knowledge assessment. A mandatory, multi-tiered sustainability training programme equips academic, administrative and grassroots staff, and on 10 March 2026 JGU hosted a Distinguished Public Lecture, 'The Climate Emergency', by Sir David King.

Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible.

JGU's contribution: This target concerns national governments and international climate finance. It is not addressed through institutional action.

Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.

JGU's contribution: JGU's climate research on the Sundarbans and its Indo-German climate action support project contribute knowledge to climate planning. JGU does not run an institutional programme aimed at least developed countries or small island developing States.

6. Programmes, Research & Curriculum

Degree programmes:

• B.A. (Hons.) Environment and Sustainable Development (JSES): covers climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental pollution and health.
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Environment and Sustainable Development (JSES): hands-on learning and internships, with scientific and technical skills to analyse gaps in achieving the SDGs.
• M.Sc. in Environmental Change & Sustainability (Online): climate science, sustainability policy, green markets, AI and GIS, with climate risk assessment projects.
• LL.M. in Environmental Law, Energy & Climate Change (Jindal Global Law School, with the Centre for Environmental Law, WWF India).
• JSES was established in 2020, and JGU is the first institution in India accredited and approved as a University Partner by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).
• Courses and learning:
• 15 cross-listed electives mapped to SDG 13, with SDG mapping of courses to the 17 SDGs and 169 targets each semester.
• Two MOOCs on environmental science, policy and practice, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.
• Sulitest TASK assessment (three-year pioneer programme partnership with JSES), expanded from students to administrative staff.
• Mandatory, multi-tiered sustainability training for academic, administrative and grassroots staff.
• Student participation in field documentation for Campus Carbon Mapping & Digital Tree Tagging.
• Research centre and thrust areas:
• Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation (CBC): interdisciplinary research on biodiversity, conservation and ecology, supporting evidence-based conservation policy.
• Climate and species: climate change impacts on species distribution models (99.66th percentile worldwide prominence), phenological responses to climate change in vegetation (98.78) and species richness and climate influence (94.50), led by Professor Kumar Manish, JSES.
• Climate dynamics: tectonic evolution and climate dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau (92.31), Professor Kumar Manish.
• Carbon and coastal ecosystems: mangrove ecosystems and carbon sequestration potential (99.59) and climate change impacts on Sundarbans livelihoods, Professors Abhiroop Chowdhury and Aliya Naz; dust storm dynamics and atmospheric impacts (97.69), Professor Aliya Naz.
• Climate decision-making and law: integrating knowledge for climate decision-making (96.38), Professor Tony George Puthucherril, Jindal Global Law School.
• Climate and the economy: protecting manual outdoor workers from extreme heat (LSE International Growth Centre project) and the Indo-German Support Project for Climate Action in India (Oxford Policy Management India).
• Frontier technologies: research into piezoelectric tiles for energy harvesting and Direct Air Capture systems.

JGU research on climate and social sustainability in fragile, conflict and violence contexts has been cited in a World Bank publication (2026). Over 60% of JGU's policy-cited publications relate to one or more of the 17 SDGs.

7. Community, Partnerships & Outreach

• Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE): JGU is a signatory to the CANIE Accord and accompanying Glasgow Paper, a commitment to align with scientific recommendations and global climate agreements.
• Global networks: Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), the Nature Positive Universities network (700+ institutions, founded by UNEP and the University of Oxford) and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI).
• Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG): speakers at JGU's Distinguished Public Lecture on 'The Climate Emergency' (10 March 2026).
• WWF India (Centre for Environmental Law): partner in the LL.M. in Environmental Law, Energy & Climate Change.
• Funded climate research partners: Oxford Policy Management India (Indo-German Support Project for Climate Action in India, INR 5,516,500) and the International Growth Centre, London School of Economics (extreme-heat study, INR 1,813,330.5).
• Sulitest: pioneer programme partner for sustainability literacy assessment; Coursera: platform for environmental MOOCs reaching diverse learners across government, retail, design, construction and engineering.
• Community resource recovery: campus collection drives for e-waste, paper and textiles, using certified recyclers; planned expansion through community-led drives and NGO partnerships.
• Local community: a free shuttle for employees, most of whom live near campus, reduces personal vehicle use; JGU plans long-term partnerships with residents, schools and non-profits.

8. Events & Activities Timeline

GHG emissions accounting (Scope 1 and 2) - Calendar year 2025 (1 Jan–31 Dec)

JGU calculated Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions under the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. Scope 3 quantification is in progress. The results are published in the JGU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report.

Solar expansion - 2025

Newly commissioned solar PV at Gate 1, Gate 2 and the Naveen Jindal Sports Academy took on-site generation to 2,556,308.4 kWh, more than double the 2024 level. This avoided approximately 2,096.2 tCO₂e.

Plantation drives - 2025

Two plantation drives added 980 plants with a survival rate above 80%, as recorded in the Green Audit.

QS 5 Stars rating presented at the House of Lords - 24 September

JGU received the overall global QS 5 Stars certificate at the India–UK Roundtable on "The Innovation Corridor: UK-India Higher Education". The rating includes a 5-Star rating for Environmental Impact.

Transition to paperless examinations - Academic year 2025–26

JGU moved 16,000 students across 12 schools to AI-enabled, computer-based proctored exams. Annual benefits include 7,680,000 pages avoided, 47.9 tonnes of paper saved and 46.08 tonnes of direct CO₂ avoided.

Collection drives for resource recovery - Dates not specified

Campus drives recovered e-waste (23 kg), paper (77 kg) and textiles (140 kg) for certified recycling, closed-loop reuse and upcycling.

Distinguished Public Lecture: "The Climate Emergency" - 10 March 2026

Delivered by Sir David King, Chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group and former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, with a special address by Zack King, Director of CCAG.

9. Awards & Recognition

• QS Stars Ratings 2025 (QS): 5-Star Excellent Rating for Environmental Impact, recognising biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, emissions tracking and reduction, and climate-conscious operations. JGU also received the overall global QS 5 Stars certificate at the House of Lords, UK (24 September).
• External audits (NAAC-mandated): energy, environment and green audits each received a satisfactory assessment, and the audit team certified that JGU's energy-saving and sustainability initiatives are well-implemented and noteworthy.
• ISEP University Partner: JGU is the first institution in India to be accredited and approved as a University Partner by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals.

10. Future Commitments & Roadmap

SDR 2026 sets out directions for climate action but does not state horizon years for most commitments.

• Net zero emissions goal by 2035; complete the Scope 3 emissions inventory (in progress) alongside annual Scope 1 and 2 reporting.
• Energy transition: expand on-site solar capacity, explore open-access renewable energy and progressively reduce the grid and fossil-fuel share.
• Green buildings: pursue green building certifications for campus facilities and continue phased energy audits and infrastructure upgrades.
• Sustainable mobility: expand the electric vehicle fleet and on-campus charging capacity (currently 35% electric fleet; 15 charging points).
• Resilience and nature-based solutions: complete full air-purifier coverage; install water aerators and waterless urinals (in progress); complete the Digital Tree Database; continue plantation drives and a campus vegetable garden.
• Research and innovation: invest in piezoelectric tiles for energy harvesting and Direct Air Capture systems through multinational partnerships.
• Curriculum and capacity: map student projects, guest lectures, study-abroad programmes and core courses to the SDGs, and continue partnerships such as Sulitest.
• Monitoring mechanisms: annual GHG inventory; annual external energy, environment and green audits and regular biodiversity audits; QR-based digital tree tagging; annual Sulitest results; SciVal research tracking; and the annual Sustainable Development Report.