13.4.1. Commitment to carbon neutral university

METU is committed to becoming a carbon-neutral university by 2040.

Commitment

METU's Zero Carbon Policy, published on its sustainability website, states: "METU is committed to taking the necessary steps to minimize its carbon footprint by 2030 and to realizing its goal of having a carbon-free campus life by 2040." METU's Climate Action and Sustainability Plan sets the goal of becoming a Net Zero university by 2040.

http://sustainablecampus.metu.edu.tr/en/policies

Scope

The commitment covers greenhouse-gas emissions under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol from.

Pathway

• Reduce energy demand and consumption by 30% by 2030. 

• Supply 100% of the university's electricity from renewable sources by 2040. 

• Convert the university vehicle fleet to electric by 2035. 

• On 13 June 2025, the Climate Action Plan Co-Design Workshop drafted the actions to reach these targets. 

• Energy management: METU's Energy Management System has been certified to ISO 50001:2018 since August 2024. Its policy (EnYS-PL-01) commits the university to using renewable energy sources, choosing the most energy-efficient products and supporting designs that improve energy performance, and senior management sets energy targets every year. 

• Renewable electricity in 2025: the 810 kWe rooftop solar plants on three dormitories generated 1,151,589 kWh, and METU applied to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change's Public and Municipal Renewable Energy Project for solar plants over the A2 and Culture and Convention Centre car parks. 

• Lower energy demand in 2025: LED retrofits cut the installed lighting load from 106,677 W to 60,870 W (42.9%), including the Faik Hızıroğlu dormitory (19,000 W to 9,000 W, 52.6%); the Osman Yazıcı dormitory renovation added wall insulation, double glazing, solar water heating and variable-speed pumps; heating and hot-water lines in staff housing were replaced with pre-insulated pipes; and remote-controlled boiler automation was installed in three dormitories, the Rectorate and the cafeteria (METU Energy Management Unit, Energy Efficiency Practices 2023–2026).