Sustainability | University of Greenwich

A greener future

Simon, our Head of Strategic Sustainability, highlights our key aims and accomplishments to ensure we remain a leader in achieving a greener future for us all.

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Our Action Areas

Our strategy is focused on six key action areas

Energy and carbon

We’re confident we’ll meet our net zero goal by 2030 – we've already cut our emissions by 62% since 2009. Find out more.

Our buildings and estate

We are significantly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We’ve invested in zero carbon heat pumps at Avery Hill campus to cut gas consumption by two thirds. Learn more.

Waste and procurement

From clothing swaps to furniture re-use – we're working to reduce waste in everything we do. Get involved.

Travel and transport

We have a fleet of zero and low carbon buses and we’re aiming for a 50% cut in business travel carbon by 2027.

Food and catering

The People and Planet League scored us 100% for sustainable food in 2023/24. We're also proud to be accredited as a Fairtrade University and to hold a gold Food for Life award. See what else we’re doing.

Our natural environment

Green spaces on our campuses are the size of 9 football pitches and home to more than 250 species. Take a look.

Courses for a greener future

We are committed to ensuring our students are prepared to make their impact towards a sustainable, greener future by embedding sustainability throughout our curriculum. There are more than 50 programmes to choose from already.

Browse these courses

We take our responsibilities seriously and are motivated by the ability to empower change when we act together; from the smallest individual action to life changing research.

We are proud to have maintained our 'First Class Award’ in the People & Planet's University Green League since 2012 and we are currently ranked as the 17^th most sustainability institution in the UK and joint 89^th globally in the Times Higher Education Impact (UN Sustainable Development Goal) Ranking. Operationally, our Estates & Facilities Directorate are operating with ISO14001 (Environmental Management) accreditation.

Our Corporate Strategy; This is Our Time reflects our responsibility from the Vice-Chancellor in delivering sustainability across teaching, research and operations. Our Sustainability Strategic Action Plan sets out our ambition and the Priorities and targets we will achieve in delivering its success.

The new Curriculum Framework launched in 2025, pushes for this teaching, embedding sustainability across all disciplines so our students know how their skills can solve the global challenges of today, and tomorrow. In recognising our own impacts as a University, our ambitious Net Zero ambitions strategic plan commits us in bringing down our carbon footprint.

Explore these webpages to find how you can make a difference to our planet through the actions you can do at Greenwich. Visit our Blog pages for even more insights into our events, partnerships and awards.

THE Impact Rankings 2024