Ensure the University sets and delivers ambitious new sustainability targets, including revised goals on Net Zero and sustainable education, to prepare all students for a climate conscious future. 

Lead Officer: Sam Ellis Hunt, Activities Officer

 

What is the issue about?

The University has committed to Net Zero by 2040, but progress on core climate targets is not being met. At the same time, the University is reviewing its Sustainability Strategy. The current lack of targets means that core pledges are likely to be missed, causing impacts to student life and funding. 

Students are increasingly concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability. The Sustainability Survey shows that while 94% of students support sustainability-related action, only 42% believe senior management is delivering on these issues. Concerns have been raised around policy, food, energy, waste and transport – all issues that affect daily student life. 

Education on Sustainability is also inconsistent, with limited opportunities for students engage with climate issues on their course. There is growing interest in embedding sustainability across all programmes to better prepare students for a climate-conscious future. 

 

What are we asking the University to do?

We are asking the university to set deliverable, ambitious, new sustainability targets on their operations, education and research, with a particular focus on net zero and sustainable education. 

We are calling for clearer goals, more regular updates and transparent reporting to ensure the university is held accountable for the targets they set. We want the university to prepare all students for a climate conscious future by embedding sustainable education across the university. 

 

What will success look like?

Updates

 

Scope Emissions

• The university are now developing their Energy Strategy, which has kicked‑started conversations around new Scope 1 and 2 targets. This process has been underway since Autumn 2025 and will be coming to an end in early February 2026.
• We are actively pushing the university to ensure these targets are ambitious and we will make sure the outcomes of this strategy feed directly into our forum methods so we get the best possible student input.
• The Scope 3 work is ongoing and the university is identifying the key areas that will have the biggest impact. The nature of Scope 3 is much more challenging as it involves many more moving parts.

Student Input

• We’ve internally introduced the new SUstainable SU Student Forum to bring these conversations together and ensure student input in both SU and university conversations.
• Student consultation is also being planned as part of the university’s Divestment Policy, something which goes across Scope 3 emissions and wider social responsibility. This is also something that aligns with student priorities too.

Sustainable Education

• As part of the university’s Curriculum Transformation, sustainability has been embedded into all courses.
• The main sustainability framework is being developed in the coming months and we’re working closely with the university to push for a strong sustainability citizenship approach.
• This work will look at how university courses and extra‑curricular opportunities can provide a multi‑tiered approach that allows all students to engage with sustainability - from everyday actions and learning, to taking this into their future employment.

What’s Next?

• All these new targets and strategies are feeding into the Sustainability Plan which is hoping to be launched Summer/Autumn 2026.
• Whilst this means that during this Top 10 year (which ends in June) we won’t have the finalised plan, we’re making sure that student priorities and expectations are firmly embedded in this.