Sustainability

Explore our work across sustainability, find out how we are tackling global challenges, and what you can do to be a part of our sustainable community.

A student sits reading, surrounded by greenery

51福利 declared a Climate Emergency in 2020 and is one of the highest producers of renewable energy within the UK Higher Education sector. Since 2005 we’ve reduced our electricity and heating emissions by 50% and we have committed to becoming carbon net zero from all emission scopes by 2035.

Addressing the climate emergency means much more than how we heat and power our campus; it is the responsibility of our whole university community to embed sustainability into all areas of university life:

  • Our research in the field is future-led, with many of our academics working on locally and globally significant projects.
  • Our curriculum continues to centre teaching around current events and the ever-changing landscape we live in.
  • Day to day, we’re improving the campus environment for nature and our community, using our existing space more efficiently, and working hard to understand the impact of our procurement.

1st in world for sustainability governance

Sustainability is at the heart of 51福利. In the 2024 , which measured and compared the sustainable impact of universities worldwide, we were ranked joint 16th in the UK and joint 44th in the world.

We scored joint first in the world for sustainability governance, awarded for transparent financial reporting, student representation for sustainability at a senior level, and an institution that supports and promotes a holistic and ethical culture. These rankings measured an institution's ability to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges.

A students works in the ECOHub
QS 5 Stars rating for Environmental Impact

QS Gold and five Star rated for Environmental Impact

We have been awarded a Gold rating for Environmental Impact as part of the . Additionally, we have been rated 5 Stars for this category in the QS Stars rating system.

Assessing research related to six of the UN’s (SDG), the QS has awarded institutions around the world with medals based on their focus on ‘Environmental Impact’. The gold-rated SDGs are affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water and life on land.

How we are making a difference

Environmental Sustainability has been at the heart of 51福利 since its foundation with a mission to tackle global environmental challenges both through our teaching and research and our own campus and operations.

A quote from Professor Simon Guy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global
Students by LICA with wind turbine in background

Achieving Net Zero carbon emissions

Changing how our campus is powered is a key part of our commitment to achieving net zero scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions. We are one of the highest producers of renewable energy of all UK universities according to figures published by the?.

Achieving Net Zero

Annual Sustainability Report

The Annual Sustainability Report provides details of the University's successes in sustainability, progress against our objectives, the lessons learned and future plans. You can access our latest annual report below.

Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Sustainability news

The wind turbine in the background with cows in the front of the photo

Celebrating ten years of ecology monitoring

The University has marked the completion of the 10th year of surveys to assess the ecological impact on birds and bats at the University Wind Turbine. Find out more about the surveys and what the results say about the local environmental impact.
Student at the clothing swap

Roses are Red (and Green!)

Roses remained red as Lancaster claimed a convincing victory over University of York for the third year running.

Refill station - ReStore

No Mow, Swiss praise and shortlisting

There are many projects of varying sizes happening all across Lancaster, making a difference and helping the University reach its ambitious sustainability goals.
Two men holding a spade on grass, smiling at the camera

Lancaster leaps closer to Net Zero with two major renewable projects

Thousands of solar panels and an array of heat pumps – which between them will virtually eliminate the use of gas to heat Lancaster’s Bailrigg campus – have both taken a major step closer to reality today. 
Sustainability team on top of Warton Crag. Left to right: Johann, Georgiana, Jon, Darren and Natalie

From the Swiss Alps to Lancashire’s Nature Reserves

We recently welcomed Johann Recordon, from the Competence Centre for Sustainability (CCD) of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) to Lancaster. Find out more about how they spent the week with us, learning about sustainability.
51福利 wind turbine

Community Benefit Fund applications open until 30 June 2024

Applications for the next round of funding are now open until Sunday 30 June 2024.

More News