Environmental sustainability
Increasing greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures and the erosion of nature and biodiversity represent an urgent threat to humanity and the ecosystems that surround us.
Through our research, teaching, operations, engagement and people, the University is helping to lead the way to a more sustainable world.
We’re at the forefront of tackling key global challenges such as climate change, population growth, rapid urbanisation, overconsumption, food and water security, loss of biodiversity and pollution.
Our environmental sustainability vision is for the University to use its full range of knowledge and influence to support a world that is environmentally sustainable. Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy sets out how we’re doing this.
Research
Through our research institutes and centres, we find innovative solutions for cleaner energy and more sustainable use of resources.
We contribute to the challenge through our:
- Royce Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub (led by the Henry Royce Institute)
- Tyndall Manchester (part of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research)
- Manchester Environmental Research Institute
- Sustainable Consumption Institute
- Manchester Institute for Innovation Research
- Policy@Manchester
Beacons for a sustainable future
Our research beacons are examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet, including environmental sustainability:
- Advanced materials – focuses on graphene and other 2D materials, pioneering innovation on sustainability in areas such as clean water and more sustainable energy storage devices.
- Biotechnology – is working towards replacing our reliance on fossil fuels with plants, algae, fungi, marine life and micro-organisms to change how we manufacture chemicals and materials and provide sources of renewable energy.
- Energy – explores the sustainability and efficiency of different energy sources and systems.
- Global inequalities – is addressing issues of global development in sustainability and peoples’ lived experience of environmental breakdown.
What we’re doing to make a difference on campus
Using our Air Quality Supersite and Manchester Urban Observatory, we combine expertise from the Manchester Environmental Research Institute, the Manchester Urban Institute, the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Futures to underpin world-leading research into air quality and help Greater Manchester achieve its goal of becoming a green city region.
Our Sustainable Resources Plan focuses on carbon reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable travel, waste reduction, sustainable buildings (including technical spaces and construction), responsible purchasing, sustainable IT services and sustainable catering and conferencing.
The Plan focuses on natural resources and resultant raw materials and products that we use and waste that we generate in our day-to-day activities and operation of the University. It identifies opportunities to maximise positive impacts and minimise the negative environmental impacts of University operations, while delivering the right infrastructure to encourage good environmental behaviour and choices.
The University has committed to eliminating avoidable single-use plastics by 2022. In our labs we’ve developed a systematic approach to reduce single-use plastic which has already generated a reduction of more than 26,000 plastic items per year.
Our Living Campus Plan has been developed as part of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, specifically to address the challenges of a growing urban campus alongside the opportunities a healthy environment provides for people and nature. The Plan recognises our dependency on the natural environment and the services it provides and seeks to support these services and provide environmental benefits across campus.
- Learn more about our living campus.
The University of Manchester has pledged to support Manchester’s climate change target for zero carbon by 2038. The Carbon Action Group and Zero Carbon Enabling Team are currently developing a series of initiatives and interventions to support this commitment. We had an absolute carbon reduction target of 40% from 2009 to 2020 and have reduced carbon emissions by 37% from our baseline measurements.
We’re ideally placed to support the UK in reducing carbon emissions, from the operations of our research, our teaching, our people and our estate. We’re at the forefront of the search for solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, including carbon reduction and climate change, and we‘re pioneering the energy systems of the future so that we can continue to heat our homes, light our buildings and travel efficiently.
- Learn more about climate change and the University.
Environmental sustainability targets
Our targets outline what we hope to achieve by 2022.
Download (PDF, 466KB)
Do your part
Our signature 10,000 Actions programme provides the opportunity to University staff to engage in positive action on sustainability.
Read more