University announces regenerative sustainability strategy

On 24 March in McEwan Hall, the University of Edinburgh launched its ambitious new environmental sustainability strategy to an audience of University staff, students and external stakeholders and decisionmakers.

Regenerative sustainability: our pathway beyond net zero marks a step change in the University’s environmental ambitions, committing to go:

  • beyond a purely operational focus, widening environmental commitments to areas where the university has the greatest impacts such as its research and innovation, and its learning and teaching;

  • beyond net zero carbon targets, to a comprehensive and interconnected response to the environmental polycrisis of climate change, nature loss, water, chemical pollution and overuse of resources;

  • beyond sustainability as merely limiting environmental damage, to the forefront of regenerative sustainability leadership.

Regenerative sustainability: our pathway beyond net zero

  • four people stand on a stage with a slide behind them that reads "Regenerative sustainability: our pathway beyond net zero"
  • A person stands at a lecturn, speaking
  • people sit on beanbags in a large hall, with light projections case onto the walls and ceiling
  • A person illustrating live on a large drawing board
  • People talking to each other in a busy room
  • A group of people stand in front of a screen, smiling

Edinburgh has been changing the world for more than 440 years and we need to continue to play our part in helping combat the global effects of the environmental polycrisis. Our new strategy represents a significant step change in effort to find innovative solutions across every area of our University. We call on people within and beyond of our community to join us in recognising the scale of this challenge and to take action for a regenerative future.

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh

Regenerative sustainability seeks to minimise harm done to the environment whilst also actively restoring environmental systems. This means sequestering more carbon than is emitted, restoring ecosystems, and becoming circular in use of resources.

The bold 15-year plan places a strong emphasis on learning and teaching, aiming to ensure all students at the University have access to meaningful study of climate and nature, regardless of their degree.

It also sets out how the University will tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution through its world-leading research and its operational activities such as travel, supply chains and the energy required to power its large estate.

We have made a lot of good progress, but we are also off track on some of our targets, and are not taking action sufficient to address the polycrisis we face. We recognise that we must do more and this strategy will ensure our action is sufficient across the challenges we face. Through focusing on our areas of highest impact, broadening our focus, and ensuring a science aligned approach that goes beyond sustainability as harm limitation, we hope to realise the step change in our impact that future generations so desperately need.

Scott Davidson Head of Sustainability and Deputy Director Social Responsibility and Sustainability, the University of Edinburgh

Reducing emissions

As one of the largest universities in the UK, Edinburgh’s emissions are some of highest in the sector. This is driven by its large supply chain, volume of travel, the size and age of its estate, the energy intensive nature of its research and its role hosting major national facilities, such as the supercomputer, ARCHER2.

To lower emissions, the University has launched a sustainable supply chain pathway to drive emissions reductions through engagement with its suppliers and staff who procure goods and services.

Alongside a sustainable travel policy with a mandate to avoid domestic flights, the institution is also exploring replacements for combined heat and power plants and gas boilers with low carbon heating sources.

Emissions from international student travel that can’t be reduced to zero are being offset through a large-scale project to sequester one million tonnes of carbon through the planting of two million trees and ecological regeneration of around 5,600 hectares of land in Scotland.

Ambitious targets

Building on progress made to date, delivering the new strategy will be a significant challenge for the University, requiring an acceleration in action across all areas.

Activities will be delivered across learning and teaching, research and operations – all supported by the University’s staff and student community.

As part of the plans, by 2030, sustainability will be integrated across the curriculum, with the University’s entire population of students gaining access to climate and nature learning experiences.

Research capabilities will be further strengthened through the new strategy with commitments including the creation of a sustainability research toolkit alongside specialised support for securing research funding and philanthropic income generation.

Operationally, the plan outlines a science-led approach to drive down supply chain, travel and estate-based emissions, and using five-year carbon budgets to ensure progress remains within 1.5 degree limit set by the Paris Agreement.

Alongside its commitment to ecologically regenerate an area five times the size of its estate, it also includes commitments to rewild green spaces and to tackle chemical pollution, water use and pollution across the University’s five campuses.

Be part of our journey

Whether you’re a student or member of staff at the University, or a potential collaborator or visitor, you can be part of our journey towards regenerative sustainability.

For students and staff, why not explore our free Carbon Literacy and Biodiversity Literacy training opportunities?

Sustainability training

You can also explore opportunities to support nature restoration activities on our wild campus and woodland creation sites.

Forest and Peatland Programme: volunteering opportunities

Wild campus: volunteer and get involved

By signing up to the Sustainability Champions network, you’ll be the first to know about sustainability opportunities, including events, internships, living lab opportunities and funding for sustainability projects.

Sustainability Champions network (Microsoft Teams)

If you’re a member of staff, check to see if your School or Department is signed up to the Sustainability Framework, and help create or implement your sustainability action plan.

Sustainability Framework

Finally, if you have questions or been inspired by our strategy, we want to hear from you! Get in touch with the Department by emailing us.

srs.department@ed.ac.uk 

Publication date