Our Sustainability Plan 2021 - 2030 sets out how we as an institution intend to tackle the current and future challenges we face in order to become sustainable, including how we can play a part in creating a sustainable world.
The plan aims to embed sustainability into our core functions of teaching and research, while setting ambitious goals for net zero carbon emissions, partnerships, reduced consumption and improved health and wellbeing. The plan was approved by, and is subsequently reported annually to the University Executive Board (UEB).
Carbon reduction is vital for the environment, and makes good business sense as fuel prices rise. Our Infrastructure Decarbonisation Plan sets out a pathway of reducing our carbon emissions.
Our Estates Services are improving the sustainability of the campus through operating an Environmental Management System in accordance with their Quality and Environmental Policy. The system has successfully achieved certification to the ISO14001 standard for our campus operations.
Our Heating and Cooling Policy is integral to campus-wide energy-saving initiatives aimed at achieving net-zero carbon goals and reducing costs. Maintaining target temperatures not only ensures comfortable working environments but also contributes significantly to a more sustainable future.
Our Estates team also survey and remediate any buildings where specific issues have been identified and which don't allow spaces to achieve the required target temperatures.
By adhering to these temperature guidelines, we promote energy efficiency, minimising the environmental impact associated with excessive heating or cooling. The policy underscores our commitment to creating a more sustainable, and energy-efficient university environment.
Commercial Services Catering and Hospitality plays a key role in the provision and support of more sustainable choices for our customers. Commercial Services strives to incorporate environmental and social considerations into the procurement, production and delivery of our services.
As part of the University’s commitment to be an anchor institution for the local communities, Commercial Services endeavours to source local, smaller suppliers and products wherever possible, giving thought to financial sustainability. We encourage our suppliers and contractors to minimise negative environmental and social effects associated with the products and services they provide. Our commitment to environmental sustainability runs throughout our organisation, and we are committed to long term sustainability in every area.
Catering & Hospitality Sustainability and Social Responsibility Policy
The University is a member of the North Eastern Universities' Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC) who, together with Sustainable Procurement Centre of Excellence, produced a NEUPC SPCE Sustainable Procurement Policy. We subscribe to the principles included in this document.
Read about what the University is doing to support ecology and biodiversity on our campuses in our Ecological Management Plan 2020-2025.
Our Sustainable Travel Plan 2022-2025 aims to reduce the impact of University-related travel on the environment (to support our target to achieve carbon neutrality) and on the local community, by encouraging staff, students and visitors to the University to travel by sustainable transport modes. This will be facilitated through a combination of infrastructure improvements, ‘soft’ measures and policy directives.
The University is a responsible investor and has committed to this in its most recent statement on responsible investment.
To find out more, see the University of York Statement on Responsible Investment (PDF 
, 148kb), which acts as the University's ethical investment policy.
Our slavery and human trafficking statement is made by the University of York in acknowledgement of section 54(1) part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA 2015) and sets out the steps that the University has taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking taking place in our supply chains or in any part of our core activities. The University is committed to ensuring that it combats slavery and human trafficking throughout its organisation and supply chains.
The University’s Code of Practice for Sustainable Research provides guidance for aligning research with our sustainability goals, including achieving carbon net-zero by 2030, reducing resource consumption, and promoting health and wellbeing. It also supports the UK Research & Innovation Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research, emphasising the role of the research community in driving sustainability.
The University of York is a member and signatory of a variety of sustainability and environment-related professional bodies.
The University of York is a signatory to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. We are committed to take action on the following 6 areas:
The UK research and innovation (R&I) sector has co-developed a voluntary environmental sustainability concordat. The concordat represents a shared ambition for the UK to continue delivering cutting-edge research, but in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way.
This is principally concerned with how the research is undertaken, rather than what the research is on. Some funders require that the institution is signed up to the concordat in order for a project to be able to apply for funding.
Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research (PDF , 100kb)
The University of York is a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Accord, asserting that we will:
The purpose of the Accord is to inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the value the interlinked objectives brings to governments, business and wider society.
The Accord is also a commitment made by learning institutions to one another, to do more to deliver the SDGs, annually report on individual progress as a Signatory, and do so in ways which share the learning with each other both nationally and internationally. Objectives include annually presenting the updated Accord metrics at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
The Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool has been developed to be used by Universities across the sector to coordinate on the monitoring of the carbon emissions associated with its supply chain. Suppliers submit their carbon data and associated targets and policies, which they are encouraged to make accessible to other University institutions that they also supply, rather than duplicating publications.
As a supplier to other Universities, the University of York also publishes their carbon information as a supplier on this tool.
The University of York has signed up to the Nature Positive Pledge. Nature Positive means restoring species and ecosystems that have been harmed by the impacts of a university and its activities and enhancing the university’s positive impacts on nature.
The University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development through innovative research and education. This partnership integrates the IDG Framework into our academic programmes, fostering collaboration on global challenges.
The University of York is a member of the EAUC and all staff are able to register with them and benefit from the networking, webinars, newsletters and resources hubs. Staff can either register directly with EAUC or contact sustainability@york.ac.uk.
EAUC is the leading body for sustainability in the post-16 education sector in the UK and Republic of Ireland. EAUC promotes holistic whole organisation approaches where leadership and governance, estates and operations, teaching and learning and collaborations are all actively driving sustainability so that we’re equipping learners for their lives, being responsible organisations and shaping society for the better. EAUC is an independent non-profit, member-led body.
They do this by:
The University of York is a corporate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) enabling all staff to benefit from access to CPD webinars, networking opportunities, and savings on IEMA membership applications and upgrades. For further information contact sustainability@york.ac.uk.
IEMA is a global professional body for anyone working in environment and sustainability. For 25 years, IEMA has been providing resources, tools, networking, knowledge sharing, and high-quality formal training and qualifications in order to meet the needs of members from their first steps on the career ladder, right to the very top. By doing this we raise the bar for professionalism in sustainability.
The University of York is a member of the UK national network of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
Joining a dynamic global network that draws upon the knowledge and educational capacity of more than 2,000 member institutions from more than 57 national and regional networks. Staff can access members-only platforms for networking opportunities, access to tools, events and outputs, and a platform to communicate progress and commitment, as well as opportunities to contribute to publications and policy.
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) works under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to mobilise the world's universities, think-tanks, and national laboratories to identify and develop global and local solutions for action on the world's most critical sustainable development challenges. Operating at the intersection between science, policy, and development practice to promote the SDGs and the Paris Agreement through education, research, policy analysis, and global cooperation.
The University of York is part of a Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Campus Sustainability Group to bring together the sustainability experience that exists across World University Network to showcase and share University best practice in developing sustainable practice.