Skip to main content
To KTH's start page

KTH's Carbon Budget

From 1 January 2026, KTH will introduce a carbon budget for air travel, a concrete tool that makes our climate goals clear and possible to follow up. The budget sets a cap on emissions and helps us reduce our emissions in line with the Paris Agreement – so that together we can achieve KTH’s climate targets.

Here you can find what the budget means, how to use it in practice, as well as supporting material and tools for planning and follow-up.

KTH's Carbon Emissions Budget

Universities and higher education institutions play a key role in the climate transition. KTH has signed the Climate Framework and committed to actively contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees – in line with the Paris Agreement and national targets.

To make our climate goals tangible, KTH will introduce a carbon budget for air travel starting 1 January 2026. The budget is a tool that sets a clear emissions cap for each organisational unit and helps us reduce emissions step by step.

As support, a visualisation tool is being developed that will make it easier to monitor emissions, analyse travel patterns, and prioritise actions.

Purpose

The carbon budget makes our climate goals clear and traceable. It provides a framework for how quickly emissions need to decrease and supports strategic decision-making within the organisation.

Goal

Reduce emissions from air travel by 8% annually from the 2019 level (kg CO₂e per full-time equivalent).

This is a shared responsibility and an opportunity to demonstrate that KTH takes the lead for a sustainable society.

Principles

  • The budget covers all air travel funded by KTH.

  • Each organisational unit has an emissions allowance that decreases by 8% per year.

  • Planning and follow-up take place within the environmental management system and in the action plans of the schools and University Administration, as well as during management reviews and the President’s operational dialogues.

Read more in KTH’s university-wide procedure for the carbon emissions budget

Calculation Method

The budget is based on emissions levels from 2019 and allocated in kg CO₂e per full-time equivalent, where full-time equivalent refers to the number of employees converted into full-time positions. For more information on the calculation method: REK 2026:3. Sustainable Business Travel. Guidelines for Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SLU.se)  and appendix to REK 2026:3 (SLU.se)

The Visualisation Tool – Your Support in the Work

To simplify this work, KTH is developing a visualisation tool that gives you and your unit access to detailed emissions data. You will be able to see how you are performing relative to your budget and receive support in analysing, prioritising, and following up. The visualisation tool will be launchd during 2026. Stay tuned!

Users will be able to generate reports directly within the tool. Manual and training video will be published soon.

For more information, contact: koldioxidbudget@kth.se