Sustainability strategy
The university is committed to sustainability and to working towards the aims of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this commitment the university has developed a sustainability strategy for the whole university in consultation with staff, students and other stakeholders. We have avoided a 'bolt-on' approach, instead focusing on integrating sustainability into the very fabric of the university.
We seek to not only comply with current sustainability guidelines, but to become a leader in the field through adopting best practice. We are building on our teaching, learning and research strengths, whilst making 91Â鶹¾«Æ· (91Â鶹¾«Æ·) a more sustainable organisation. Through this approach, we hope to minimise our environmental impact and create a healthy and inspiring place to work and learn.
Sustainability policies and plans
91Â鶹¾«Æ· has committed to embrace sustainability and work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across all its activities and operations. Sustainability and the SDGs are a cornerstone of The Empowering University strategy and the University is a global hub for SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, the only UK university to be given this accolade.
The university is committed to improving the sustainability impact of its activities at the local, regional, national and global levels. The university has set out its commitments to sustainability in its policies and plans and has already made considerable progress in addressing sustainability issues through its travel planning, recycling and energy saving activities. Our current policies and plans can be accessed through the links below.
Sustainability targets
The university has set a series of targets in relation to sustainability to measure our progress in this area. Our targets cover the breath of sustainability issues including waste, green travel, engagement and carbon emissions. Progress against these targets are reported annually to the University Sustainability Committee and published in our annual sustainability report which you can find on this page.
View details of our targets
Strategy themes
To help staff and students become responsible ‘global’ citizens in the face of the environmental challenges ahead of them.
To develop groundbreaking and interdisciplinary research that advances knowledge on sustainability and establishes 91Â鶹¾«Æ· as a leader in this sector.
To reduce our environmental impact and be an exemplar of best practice.
To ensure 91Â鶹¾«Æ· is a healthy, creative and inspiring ‘space’ to study and work.
To establish 91Â鶹¾«Æ· as a beacon of best practice, a centre of research excellence for sustainability and an ambassador locally, regionally and beyond.
Sustainability governance
Sustainability governance is managed through the University Sustainability Committee (USC) which comprises of representatives from across the university community.
The USC provides strategic direction for the sustainability elements of the university’s Empowering University strategy and receives updates and progress reports on sustainability strategies and objectives. These updates are then reported to the University Leadership Board. The USC meets three times a year. Membership of the USC is listed below. Membership of the committee includes representatives from the students’ union, representatives from Trades Unions and representatives from faculty and directorates.
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USC members
PVC Sustainability and Dean of Health & Life Sciences Â
Simon Oldroyd (Chair)
A/Dir SDG Impact. Theme Dir Net Zero
Mark Charlton (Deputy Chair)
Education for Sustainable Development Forum Chair
Andrew Reeves
Senior Media Officer
Claire Roberts
Sustainability Manager
Karl Letten
Interim Assoc. Dean R&I
Raffaella Villa
Senior Assistant Librarian/Unison Union Environment Officer
Phil Adams
Senior Lecturer/University College Union representative
Neil Brown
Student Union (Academic Executive)
Nyashadzashe Nguwo
Head of Procurement
Martin Satchwell
Associate Dean (International)
Manjeet Ridon
Executive Personal Assistant to PVC
Joanne Curtis
Student Union Head of Income Generation & Enterprise
Andrew Reynolds
Student Union (Union Development Executive)
Amir Iqbal