Universities have been warned not to return to old habits after figures showed a steep hike in carbon emissions from business travel, sending them back towards pre-pandemic levels.

An analysis of recently released data from??shows that UK institutions produced just under 340,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from business travel in 2023-24, an increase of nearly a quarter on the previous year.

The vast majority of this (about 90 per cent) came from air travel. Train travel, employee-owned vehicles, coaches and taxis contributed around 2 per cent each.

The figures are defined as scope 3 emissions, which are those that occur outside a company¡¯²õ direct operations but are still a consequence of its activities.

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Previous analysis?revealed that scope 1 and 2 emissions fell to their lowest level on record, but the increase in travel emissions was criticised by experts.

Charlotte Bonner, chief executive of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges,?said the rise was ¡°concerning¡±, particularly the increase in air travel.

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¡°While overall emissions remain below pre-pandemic levels, we are seeing clear signs of rebound. Lower carbon travel and collaboration behaviours adopted during Covid restrictions are not being maintained.

¡°What¡¯²õ most important now is preventing this rebound from becoming the new normal and an ongoing trend.¡±

The Hesa data shows?that emissions increased by 32 per cent from air travel?and by 55 per cent from rail.

Analysis by Claire Hoolohan, senior lecturer at the University of Manchester, found that reported business air travel emissions was at about 85 per cent of pre-Covid levels seen in 2018-19.

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¡°If a 15 per cent reduction against the pre-Covid baseline has been achieved as a result of finding new working practices and collaboration culture, this is good news, though more should be done to further reduce air travel given how widespread new working practices are, and the known inequities in air travel across the sector,¡± she added.

Bonner said some of the increase will be a result of institutions reporting more accurately, but issues with the data persist.

51³Ô¹Ï¡¯²õ?analysis includes 96 providers which reported emissions data for both years. Of these, two-thirds increased their emissions in the past year.

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The analysis excludes Heriot-Watt University and City St George¡¯²õ, University of London. Both institutions ¨C which reported more emissions than any others ¨C said the figures published were an error.

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Of those remaining, UCL produced 27,079 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from business travel ¨C more than any other in the sector. It was followed by the University of Oxford (25,383 tonnes) and Imperial College London (24,311).

Bonner said the sector needs to actively lock in low-carbon travel behaviours which includes adopting comprehensive recording of emissions, setting clear institutional targets and prioritising alternatives to flying.

¡°A sector-wide agreement on emissions reductions could provide much-needed consistency and ambition,¡± she added.

Hoolohan said the establishment of absolute targets focusing on air travel, action plans and monitoring processes would support sector-wide decarbonisation.

¡°Beyond targets, there needs to be a more concerted effort throughout higher education to?disrupt and reshape professional practices to reduce emissions.

¡°Covid was a vital opportunity for change, and indeed there have been extensive changes throughout the sector, but more is still needed to overcome unsustainable travel practices.¡±

UCL said its scale, high-impact research and global partnerships naturally result in higher business travel volumes.

A spokesperson added: ¡°We are actively reducing our carbon footprint through a sustainable travel policy that prioritises low-carbon options, such as walking, cycling and rail, even when they are not the cheapest option.

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¡°We recognise our responsibility in tackling the climate crisis; our latest Sustainability Plan sets out our commitment to be net zero for our direct carbon emissions by 2030, and for our full footprint by 2040.¡±

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com