What universities in the UK are doing to tackle climate change

Universities around the UK are taking charge of climate action. At an institutional level, courses across all disciplines are now integrating sustainability into their curricula, while campus buildings and infrastructure are increasingly turning to clean energy. What’s arguably most exciting is that students across campuses in the UK are fundamentally at the heart of facilitating change.

According to Standford-affiliated research, Generation Z are highly collaborative, care deeply about others and have a pragmatic attitude about how to address a set of inherited issues like climate change. All these qualities are essential for addressing the vast challenges posed by climate change - in today’s students we can see how these traits are put into practise.

Experiencing the impact of climate change first hand are known drivers for mobilising action. In the UK, domestic students as well as international students have witnessed the effects of climate change on their local communities. International source markets like India, Nigeria and Indonesia are progressively suffering from intense heat waves, flooding, wildfires and desertification, while in the UK flooding is of particularly concern.

To prevent these environmental disasters from rapidly becoming more devastating and wreaking havoc on communities and wider economies, urgent action on climate change is needed. The good news is that over the last 25 years, renewable energy solutions have developed exponentially, offering clean, often cheaper and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Universities play an important role in driving the energy transition forward. In our previous article, focused on how the higher education sector can accelerate the rise of green jobs, we considered the importance of adapting courses across university curricula to address the key challenges presented by climate change.

For the remainder of this article, we will explore exceptional examples of what universities across the UK are doing to promote sustainability.

The University of Reading

Ranked as the number one university in the UK for sustainability in the 2023/24 People & Planet University League table, the University of Reading aims to embed sustainability practices across the University’s operations. It is known for emphasising ethical investments, carbon reduction and sustainable food practices. Impressively the University has reduced its in-scope carbon emissions by 61% in 2022/23 (against a 2008/09 baseline) and aims to be net zero by 2030. It also actively promotes recycling across campus and has a recycling rate of over 60%. In addition, the University’s main campus has achieved the Green Flag award 14 consecutive times for its outstanding green spaces, giving students and the broader community access to a lake, woodlands and the popular Harris Garden.

Students at the University can also get hands on with a variety of sustainability volunteering opportunities, including regular litter picking afternoons, gardening and participating in environmentally focused campaigns.

Finally, a key focus at the university is to integrate sustainability education across the curriculum and to ensure that all graduates have a fundamental understanding of the concepts related to Sustainable Development and are empowered to effect positive change.

The University of Exeter

Another leader in environmental sciences and sustainability research is the University of Exeter. They are also committed to achieving carbon net zero across all scopes by 2030. The University prioritises being a Nature Positive university, enhancing biodiversity through protection, restoration and expansion where possible across its campuses and beyond.

Its Streatham Campus is a registered Botanic Garden boasting trees estimated to store nearly 6,000 tonnes of carbon. Furthermore, sustainability is embedded across the University’s operations, from extensive recycling and composting to promoting sustainable travel. A key focus is to integrate sustainability into the curriculum across disciplines.

The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester stands out as a champion of sustainability. They’ve set the ambitious target of achieving zero direct carbon emissions by 2038, noting that this is a significant step beyond net zero. They plan on achieving this with a bold energy plan that includes switching from gas to sustainable options like air-source heat pumps and implementing renewable energy solutions including solar and wind.

Across the board, the University leads on a range of sustainable initiatives. These include expanding on green spaces (including an impressive tree trail) to enhance biodiversity and wellbeing, the elimination of over 250,000+ pieces of single-use plastic, the involvement of over 15,000 students in the University’s annual sustainability challenge and more than 2800 staff members commuting by active travel.

The University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is another UK institution with a strong commitment to sustainability. Committed to reaching net-zero by 2030, the University notably makes sustainable choices as easy as possible for students. Recycling bins are dotted throughout campus, as well as donation points where students can donate unwanted items to the British Heart Foundation. Students also have access to community fridges where they can leave leftover food for others to freely help themselves. The University actively promotes active travel and recorded 1.4 million active and sustainable travel journeys in 2023/24. Students have access to a cycle hub where they can park their bikes, shower and use lockers, as well as ample bike parking across campus. Students can join a variety of clubs and societies focused on sustainability. Some of these include the allotment society, engineers without borders, the sustainability committee and people and planet.

Additionally, all the electricity that the University purchases is from 100% renewable energy sources and there is increasing emphasis on making university infrastructure more energy efficient. The University also plans on embedding education for sustainable development into every course on offer.

UK universities are paving the way to a sustainable future, setting vital examples for how to implement sustainable solutions. Not only are they breaking ground and serving as microcosms of sustainable living in action, but they are also equipping the leaders and workforce of the future to better understand and address climate-related challenges.

Today’s students are allies in the fight against climate change – their generation’s collaborative and pragmatic spirit is exactly what the world needs right now.