We’ve all heard about the climate crisis, and many of us are taking steps to reduce our impact on the planet. But what are universities in the UK doing to combat climate change?
Updated: 17 Mar 2025If sustainability is a major concern of yours, it’s nice to know that the universities you’re considering studying at are taking the climate crisis seriously and working towards becoming a green uni. Fortunately, loads of UK unis are putting in a lot of work to reduce their emissions and become more sustainable. We’ve had a look at a few different unis to highlight what they’re doing as a part of their commitment to sustainability.
The uni aims to be a net-zero carbon campus by 2030 and is putting several projects into place to achieve this. So far, the work they’ve done towards sustainability include achieving Eco Platinum Campus as of 2020, reducing carbon emissions by 60% in 2020 compared to 2005 and continually updating their Environmental Policy. The University of West London even has a sustainable food policy and is committed to continuing improvement in this area.
Cardiff Metropolitan University is recognised as one of the most sustainable UK unis, ranked 1st in the UK for sustainability by People & Planet in their 2022/23 sustainable league tables. They’ve also won a range of other awards, from the Silver Hedgehog Friendly Campus Award to the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) Gold Award by Food Made Good in 2022. They offer loads of ways for students and staff to get involved locally and have also made larger steps. These include utilising renewable energy where possible, and Strategy 2023, where they identified Low Carbon Futures as a top five priority for the university.
Bangor University’s sustainability strategy has four principles: not just the environment, ambitious and evidence-based, open and honest communication and in everything we do. The university believes that sustainability requires four pillars, environmental, social, cultural and economic, and sets ambitious targets to become a sustainable leader. They aim for sustainability to be ingrained into every part of university life, and aren’t afraid to admit to areas they could improve in, while celebrating those they’re leading the way in.
This university is also working towards Net Zero Carbon for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and have put a plan in place to achieve this. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from the university buildings themselves, while indirect emissions created by other companies in producing products for the university to use is Scope 2. So far, the University of Bristol has decreased their Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 48,000 tonnes (2006) to 28,000 tonnes (2021). To get to Net Zero, they’ve put together an eight-point plan, which they’re currently putting into practice.
Coventry University signed the UN’s University and College Sector Sustainable Development Goals in 2018 and have been embedding the 17 goals into all of their activities. They place a high value on sustainable education, meaning that all students are offered chances to become empowered and inspired critical change-makers for sustainability in their fields. Students are able to join coffee morning style sessions and participate in sustainability-focused webinars. The uni also works with catering providers to enhance sustainability in the food available on campus.
London South Bank University has put themselves in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in order to keep making progress towards sustainability. Between 2010/11 and 2018/19, they’ve reduced CO2e emissions by 54%, and by the end of 2020, they had reduced carbon emissions by 80% compared to 2010/11. They have a range of ongoing projects aimed at making real-world differences and are committed to continuing to develop and invest in sustainability projects.
Hopefully this has given you an idea of the sorts of projects and commitments universities across the UK are making to sustainability. From reducing emissions to sustainable food products, to supporting and encouraging biodiversity on their own campuses, it’s easy to see how these unis are making an impact at the local, national and even international level. While we’ve only covered six universities here, you can rest assured that there are other universities up and down the UK who have similar initiatives and take sustainability just as seriously.