Universities as Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurs

Net-Zero is a norm of the climate regime constructed by a range of state and nonstate actors. Universities are an important yet hitherto under-researched source of Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurship. This chapter provides insight into how universities can be considered Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurs. It illustrates how Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurship cuts across all three domains of a modern university: research, teaching, and its third mission of outreach and engagement. It also charts the Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurship universities demonstrate as implementers, epistemic contributors, and investors. It shows that as Net-Zero implementers, universities can drive normative momentum by setting Net-Zero targets, developing on-campus climate mitigation strategies, and joining broader climate coalitions. At the same time, universities’ teaching and research can greatly contribute to the knowledge base for the Net-Zero transition. Equally, as institutional investors, universities can take steps to align their endowments with the Paris Agreement and divest from fossil fuels. As specific case studies within each of these areas demonstrate, the practice of universities as Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurs remains highly varied. While there are clear hot spots of Net-Zero Norm Entrepreneurship in the USA and UK, evidence suggests a trend to a more globalized practice over time. As a result, universities play an emerging yet vital role in supporting, researching, and investing in a Net-Zero future.