Strategy

Sustainability strategy 2025-2030

Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy sets out how the University of Sheffield will reduce its environmental impact over the next five years, while continuing to deliver excellent research, education and civic contribution. It builds on the progress made since our first strategy in 2020 and provides a clearer, more measurable roadmap for 2025-2030.

This strategy sets out how we will reduce our environmental impact while sustaining our core purpose: excellent research, education and civic contribution. It reflects steady progress already underway, recognising that day-to-day changes - alongside targeted investment - add up over time. It also reinforces sustainability as a shared endeavour that brings our community together across disciplines, roles and partners.

Professor Koen Lamberts

President and Vice-Chancellor

Higher education has a vital role in responding to global sustainability challenges, but universities are operating in a demanding context. We must reduce emissions quickly and fairly while navigating financial constraints, rising costs, and the practical complexity of decarbonising a large and diverse campus. Much of our footprint sits in Scope 3 emissions - from supply chains, construction, travel, digital and food - where progress depends on partnerships, markets and wider system change. This strategy sets a realistic path that matches ambition with deliverable action.

Since our 2018/19 baseline, we have reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42%. We will continue to report progress openly, with a clear set of headline metrics published alongside annual updates.

Our updated targets follow a science-based approach and are guided by three principles: prioritise real reductions over offsetting, focus on the emissions we can most influence (especially within Scope 3), and balance carbon reduction with our wider mission.

• Scopes 1 and 2: 80% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2038 (from a 2018/19 baseline)
• Scope 3: net zero by 2045, with 2030 checkpoints across high-impact sources including purchasing and capital projects, travel, laboratories, digital and food

The strategy is organised around thematic areas of delivery, each with a clear vision and measurable commitments. Each theme has an accountable lead, helping ensure sustainability is embedded across faculties, schools and professional services. The core of the strategy is reproduced on these webpages, and the full strategy document is available to download below.

This strategy is the result of collaboration across the University and is grounded in a simple principle: environmental sustainability is about justice - ensuring future generations can enjoy the same opportunities we do today. It sets a clear framework for action, strengthened governance and accountability, and a renewed focus on turning shared ambition into practical change.

Professor Ruth Blakeley

Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Institutional Lead for Sustainability

University Sustainability Strategy (2025-30) (PDF)

Supporting documents

Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy brings together key targets and commitments from a number of other specific plans, policies and strategies:

• Biodiversity action plan (PDF)
• Endowments Investment policy (PDF)
• Commuter Travel Plan (PDF)