KI’s environmental work 2025 – report submitted to the Government
On 20 February, KI submitted the annual Environmental Management Report (EMS Report) to The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Education. The results show that we need to continue working systematically, in order to improve KI’s environmental performance.
Annual results in EMS report
As a government agency, KI is required to integrate environmental considerations into its operations and to take into account the direct and indirect environmental impact of its activities in a systematic manner. KI annually reports the results of the EMS work to the Government in conjunction with the submission of the annual report.
Direct environmental impact
Direct environmental impact refers to activities within an organisation that have an immediate effect on the environment, for example energy consumption for the operation of premises and equipment, and emissions from travels and transport.
The activities within KI’s operations that have a significant direct impact on the environment are business travel, electricity consumption, and the purchase and use of risk-classified substances, laboratory and clinical equipment, and consumables (for laboratory and office operations).
- According to the 2025 report, KI continues to increase its air travel for the second year in a row, both in terms of reported carbon dioxide emissions (kgCO2 in total and per full-time equivalents) and in terms of flight kilometres. Emissions from KI’s air travel account for approximately 98 per cent of KI’s total emissions from business travel and other transport. Train travel also increased compared with previous years. However, it is not clear to what extent this increase in train travel may have replaced air travel.
- Total energy consumption (in the premises where KI is the primary tenant) decreased in 2025 compared with 2024. This was due to the energy efficiency measures implemented by property owners in previous years, which have primarily reduced KI’s need for heating and cooling. However, electricity consumption in kWh per square metre, has increased slightly compared with previous years, from 128 kWh/m² to 133 kWh/m².
- When purchasing goods and services, KI has set environmental requirements in more procurements and call-offs than in previous years. However, looking at the total value of all KI’s procurements and call-offs, calculated in SEK, the proportion where environmental requirements have been set has decreased.
Emissions from KI’s business travel and transport in 2025
| Emissions, kg CO₂ | Emissions, kg CO₂ per full-time equivalent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air travel | 2 943 862 | 580 | ||
| Train travel | 2 256 | 0,444 | ||
| Bus travel | 2 269 | 0,447 | ||
| Car travel | 37 048 | 7,3 | ||
| Machinery and other vehicles | 72 | 0,014 | ||
| Total | 2 985 435 | 588 |
Indirect environmental impact
Indirect environmental impact is a result of an organisation’s activities. This may, for example, be a completed training course, advice that has been given or information that has been provided, leading to another part taking action.
The activities within KI’s operations with significant indirect impact on the environment are education and research. The integration of environmental, climate and sustainability perspectives into education at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels has continued during the year. To support KI’s teaching staff, a course on teaching sustainable development was launched in 2025, and teaching tools have been developed and are available to all teachers and staff at KI.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s summary will be published in April
In April, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will publish a report summarising the Swedish authorities’ reports on environmental management work.
Would you like to read the EMS report?
Please contact the central Environmental Coordinators at: miljo@ki.se