Strategy and Targets

Sustainability Strategy and Progress Reports

Our latest Sustainability Strategy was approved by Council in May 2022 and is aligned closely to the University’s overarching Strategic Plan - Strategy 2030: A Sustainable World for Future Generations.

Annual Reports on Sustainability progress against the UN SDGs are published publicly. Progress reports on the KPIs included within the Sustainability Strategy are reported annually to Council. In February 2023, Council was informed of the improved rankings in sustainable-focussed league tables, progress on nationally recognised sustainability targets, and the increase in engagement and visibility of sustainability from the staff and student 25 by 25 campaign.

In February 2024, Council heard the Sustainability Delivery Group had identified three Key Action Pathways for focussed sustainability and carbon activity, those being: Built Environment, University Travel and Supply Chain. It was also advised that, as part of its Sustainability Strategy, and in partnership with the Students’ Union, work continues towards the target of significantly reducing carbon emissions by 2025 through the 25 by 25 campaign. In addition, setting aside 30% of the campus to help wildlife, in accordance with the Wildlife Trust’s 30 by 30 campaign, had begun.

September 2024 saw the University Executive approve an updated Sustainability Strategy. The key objectives are now defined as: Defining and Communicating Sustainability, Actioning Sustainability and Embracing Sustainability. Two Key Performance Indicators are now given as:
o Maintain the University’s position in the top 10% in The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
o Maintain 1st Class position in People & Planet's University League.

Environmental Targets and Progress Reports

As part of the ISO14001:2015 accreditation an Annual Management Report is presented to the Sustainability Delivery Group. The last report on the 10th of May 2023 contained a review on documents such as the Environmental Policy, environmental incidents, and any changing circumstances.

As part of our environmental management system and Environment Policy commitments, we devise several targets to ensure continual improvement, topics range from energy, water, and carbon reductions, increasing waste recycling, enhancing biodiversity, greener travel and transport and construction and refurbishment targets. The latest targets and objectives can be found here.

We provide annual environmental reports to publish what we have achieved on our targets, in addition to Sustainable Development Goal progress reports. All are available on this page.

Education for Sustainable Development Target

Student and Staff Sustainable Engagement Target

Targets and key performance indicators are available through the Strategy 2030: Sustainability Strategy.

Community Involvement Target

The University Civic Engagement strategy sits alongside our broader University Strategy 2030 and our other strategic approaches. Civic Engagement is the way in which this University contributes to the educational, cultural, and economic prosperity and wellbeing of our communities. The strategy will set out how we aim to:

• Celebrate and raise the status of the University’s civic engagement work
• Develop our understanding of our internal and external networks
• Support staff and partners to foster sustainable collaborations

Sustainable Procurement Target

Budgeting for Sustainability

The University supports sustainability through a number of budgets. Please visit this page for further details.