Sustainability

Strategy 2025 promises UWS will become a stand-out university committed to tackling the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as a leader in climate change and resilience through research and enterprise activity. The University’s long-standing commitment to sustainability is shown through both the commitment to be net zero in operations by 2040 and through the signing of the Sustainable Development Goal Accord which commits UWS to reporting annually on work towards embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals through learning and teaching, research, leadership, operations, and engagement activities.

UWS Sustainability Statement

The University recognises the criticality of embedding sustainability into our practices and our responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment whilst fostering social equity and promoting economic viability.

We strive to inspire and educate our students, staff, and wider community to become agents of positive change, working towards a more sustainable future.

This statement aligns with Strategy 2025 which sets out the ambitions for the University and is cognisant of national and global commitments to reducing carbon emissions.

UWS Purpose

We are committed to reducing our emissions and becoming net zero by 2040, reducing the impact that delivering higher education has on our community.

We will lead activity across our core themes:

Learning & teaching

We will continue to develop the inclusion of sustainability within our curriculum, working towards achieving a platform for all students and staff to have the skills that they can empower a sustainable future with.

Distinctive research & innovation

Our research approach is embedded within our strive to become a stand-out university in tackling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our vision is for UWS to be among the global leaders of excellent, relevant, and purposeful research aligned with the UN SDGs and to become a leader in climate change and resilience through research and enterprise activity.

Shaping our communities & society

As an anchor institution within our communities, we will be seen as leaders in sustainable practices, acting as a reference and collaborating with our partners to support our journeys.

We are currently developing a new Sustainability Plan due for publication in 2024 which covers the above in depth alongside each of our Operational Sustainability Action Areas:

Sustainable Energy

We will work towards having a decarbonised source of energy for heating and powering our estates.

Carbon Management

We will invest in new technologies that improve the efficiency of our operations and in turn reduce our emissions.

Biodiversity & environmental adaptation

We will assess and manage climate impacts on our campuses and invest towards becoming biodiversity positive, expanding the wealth in our greenspace.

Transport

We will prioritise and incentivise sustainable transport modes for travel.

Food

We will continually assess the role of our catering delivery, diversifying the choices and educating on the impact of food choices.

Waste

We will further incentivise and collaborate on waste reduction and management.

Procurement

We will continue to prioritise sourcing goods and services that create less impact on our environment and community.

Sustainability Practices, Actions, Achievements

At UWS, sustainable practices and initiatives are implemented and monitored through both our Sustainability Working Group and Shaping Communities and Society Steering group. Sustainability is considered through all investment requests and the University is making changes to ensure we are a responsible global citizen in our everyday operations. We recognise that the world is facing a climate emergency and we all have a part to play in reducing the impact of climate change. We are investing in creating more sustainable and environmentally friendly campuses and working to reduce our emissions to meet our net zero target. Our award-winning Lanarkshire campus, opened in 2018, was built to be environmentally sustainable, and the concept and action of reducing and minimising consumption is a key driver in our capital planning processes, in our investment and in our ways of working. People of all ages around the world, including many of our students, have stood up for climate action and we believe we have an obligation to the communities we serve to act now.

In November 2022 we launched our Green Campaign which will run across all campuses and throughout the academic year to encourage all staff and students to make everyday changes to be more sustainable.

2021 Sustainability Highlights

20/21 saw a 19% year on year reduction in carbon emissions and 70% drop from our 12/13 baseline year
We have introduced chemical free cleaning across campuses
We have planted 349 trees through our partnership with Coffee Conscience
UWS was runner up in the Guardian University Awards Sustainability category
UWS is ranked within the top 200 universities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and:
1^st in Scotland and 4^th in the UK for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
2^nd in Scotland and 10^th in the UK for SDG 10: Reducing Inequalities

Sustainability Annual Report 2020/21

UWS has committed to placing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of our Strategy 2025. UWS Strategy 2025 highlights the University’s commitment to tackling the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our vision is for UWS to be among the global leaders of excellent, relevant and purposeful research aligned with the UN SDGs. Our goal is to become a leader in climate change and resilience through research and enterprise activity.

Download the 2020/21 Sustainability Annual Report (pdf)

Sustainability Plan 2016 to 2020

The UWS Sustainability Plan outlines our ambition to achieve a 20% reduction in carbon by 2020 and how we go beyond this in embedding Sustainability in Education and the wider student experience. The Plan highlights how we support our students, staff and local communities through Initiatives which have a positive impact on economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Download the Plan (pdf)

Sustainability Annual Report 2018/19

The UWS Sustainability Annual report 2018/19 highlights activity and progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the tremendous success in cutting our carbon emissions by 4670 tonnes of CO2e (42%) since 2012/13. This is double the targeted 20% by 2020 and testament to our vision to create sustainable, forward thinking environments, such as our award winning Lanarkshire Campus.

Download Sustainability Annual Report 2018/19 (pdf)

UWS Climate Ready – Adaptation Plan

Extreme weather and climate change threaten to damage UWS premises and interfere with the systems we rely on for day-to-day business continuity. Developing and implementing our Adaptation Plan allows us to understand our vulnerability to current and future climate change, to recognise and assess the risks and also to identify research opportunities to further advance knowledge and understanding of our changing climate.

Download UWS Climate Ready Action Plan (pdf)

Last updated: 15/01/2024