Annual report highlights sustainability performance and achievements

University of Gloucestershire has today published its new online Annual Sustainability Report highlighting its strategy, performance and achievements, including progress towards its net zero carbon emissions target by 2030.

In the first year of reporting on the University’s Sustainability Strategy 2022-2027, the report highlights how students and staff are continuing to drive forward on key commitments to reduce negative environmental impacts and maximise positive impact through new learning, meaningful research, and creative collaborations.

Highlights in the report by the University, a Regional Centre of Expertise in sustainability education acknowledged by the United Nations University, include:

• The pioneering approach being used by the University to measure the breadth, depth and quality of sustainability learning embedded across its course portfolio
• Progress the University is making towards its net zero carbon emissions target by 2030, including a £3.3m project funding for energy efficiency improvements across its estate
• Graduate, student and staff success stories and sustainability award wins, including an OBE for Professor Janet Dwyer in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations for her contributions to rural research to improve sustainable agriculture
• Successful collaborative partnerships to support sustainability work within the community, including the Changemakers Summit for 120 secondary school students delivered with the Cheltenham Education Partnership
• How the University’s sustainability commitments are core to its City Campus development, making it a major feature in the delivery of the Sustainability Strategy 2022-2027

Dr Alex Ryan, Director of Sustainability at the University, said: “The Annual Sustainability Report reminds us of all the brilliant innovations, powerful experiences and creative partnerships that power the sustainability contribution of our university.

“This year we’ve moved to a digital reporting format and worked on improvements to the way we report for all our readers, on diverse and technical issues, from carbon emissions reduction to curriculum change.

“These are incredibly challenging times for the global community in its attempts to minimise the serious impacts we are facing from rapid environmental change, and equally challenging times for students and surrounding communities in dealing with rising costs and issues around wellbeing and equality.

“The need to connect the dots has never been more important and our sustainability focus is key to how we understand our role as inventors, solution builders and implementers, part of a collective force for positive change.”