Environmental sustainability strategy (2022-30)

1. Summary

1.1 The University of West London’s (UWL’s) environmental sustainability strategy has been developed to address the requirements of the University strategic plan and to achieve the strategic objective to be net zero carbon by 2030.

1.2 The strategy is designed to provide an overarching framework to lead the University’s thinking on devising its sustainability policies and action plans in the future.

1.3 This strategy is reviewed on an annual basis.

1.4 This strategy forms part of the University’s overall approach to sustainability including its approach to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, its environmental policy, sustainable food policy, environmental sustainability engagement strategy, waste management strategy and the Carbon Management Plan.

2. What is “sustainability”?

2.1 The common accepted definition of sustainability is: “…development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”¹.

2.2 The core principles which underpin this are of meeting the essential needs of society while living within environmental limits.

2.3 The challenge for any organisation is to embed sustainability in a way that is relevant to its own operations and organisational culture.

3. Links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

3.1 The University recognises the importance of delivering sustainability across its work, including teaching, research and operations. UWL is committed to engaging with the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) which are 17 agreed goals covering social, environmental and economic sustainability objectives that are to be delivered in the developed and developing world. 

The University has adopted seven SDGs which it will use to drive activity by 2030 as a way of focusing our efforts on issues of significance to our students, staff and stakeholders. The contributions we make toward the SDGs are clearly identified and reported against in the annual sustainability report.

4. Context of environmental sustainability in UWL

4.1 UWL has sites in Ealing and Brentford in west London, an educational hub at Fountain House in Reading as well as the campus in Oxford, Ruskin College. The University teaches a variety of academic subjects across ten academic schools. The day-to-day activities of staff and students have a major impact on the local community and environment, and the University is a significant contributor to the local economy in west London.

4.2 The underlying need for this strategy is drive by the University’s wider corporate and social responsibilities, and by our statutory obligations. Corporate responsibility seeks to drive environmental and sustainability benefits with regards to such matters as reducing pollution, minimising waste, product safety and conservation of resources.

4.3 The University also has a range of statutory obligations relating to environmental issues including those relating to reducing waste, carbon reporting, water conservation, biodiversity and enhancing the built environment.

4.4 The Board of Governors (BoG) has endorsed the University Strategic Plan Impact 2028 which contains a clear commitment to reduce emissions, decarbonise and deliver environmentally friendly estates and improved campus efficiency. The KPI set by the BoG to measure progress in achieving environmental sustainability is for the University to achieve 50% carbon reduction by 2028.

4.5 The BoG also approved the adoption of relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to environmental sustainability to drive its sustainability agenda forward, including Climate Action. The University is committed to delivering relevant SDGs by 2030

4.6 The methods used to measure and report on environmental sustainability within in the HE sector are currently being reviewed. However, UWL submits data on its environmental sustainability performance to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the People and Planet University League on an annual basis for monitoring and reporting. Both external providers make these data available to the public. The University is also committed to providing an annual report on sustainability, which can be found on the external website.

5. Environmental sustainability policy statement

5.1 UWL will:

• Ensure that environmental protection and social issues, including prevention of pollution are considered within the University's strategic planning, management and operations
• Ensure that all staff and students are given the opportunity to engage with the environmental policy and strategy in a way that is relevant to them and which promotes further understanding of sustainable development
• Encourage the inclusion of sustainable development themes within the University’s research activities
• Support the teaching of sustainable development topics in the curriculum, relevant to student coursework
• Fulfil all compliance obligations relating to environmental management; and 
• Communicate the contents of this policy within the University and make it publicly available

6. Strategy Framework

6.1 UWL will develop its sustainability actions around the following broad themes:

• Equipping our graduates with the understanding and knowledge of sustainability that future leaders and decision makers require though teaching and the curriculum where relevant
• Encouraging sustainability research and knowledge transfer
• Using EcoCampus and SDG goals to manage the environmental risks and opportunities from our own operations and achieve the BoG target
• Communicating environmental issues to staff and students, and ensuring they understand their environmental responsibilities
• Encouraging staff and students to take responsibility for their own actions with regard to environmental sustainability

7. Environmental Sustainability Objectives

7.1 UWL has established Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) environmental sustainability objectives. The objectives, as well as the responsibilities and KPIs, are shown in Appendix 1.

7.2 External funding for environmental sustainability projects is actively sought by the University. UWL spends approximately £1m annually on projects that improve estate infrastructure, student experience, and environmental performance.

8. Carbon Emissions Baseline

8.1 A key objective for the university is becoming a net zero carbon institution by 2030. This includes for all Scopes 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions, and will be achieved by reducing our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 90% by 2030.

8.2 The carbon emissions baseline is for academic year, 2021/22.

8.3 The total carbon emissions calculated during 2021/22 was 12,825 tCO2e. This figure figure includes all Scope 1, 2 and 3 activities where data is available and covers electricity, fuel, natural gas, water, waste and travel. Table 1 below shows a detailed breakdown of the carbon emissions.

Table 1: Environmental Sustainability Baseline (2021/22)

Type - Carbon emissions

• Natural gas (scope 1) - 555.37 (tCOe)
• Other fuels (scope 1) - 4.565 (tCOe)
• Electricity (scope 2) - 1,377.93 (tCOe)
• Water treatment (scope 3) - 7.668 (tCOe)
• Water supply (scope 3) - 4.2 (tCOe)
• Waste (scope 3) - 3.221 (tCOe)
• Business travel (scope 3) - 104 (tCOe)
• Employee commuting (scope 3)* - 3166 (tCOe)
• Downstream transportation – (student travel – commuting and international relocation) (scope 3)* - 7602 (tCOe)
• Total - 12,824.95 (tCO2e)

8.4 Work is currently underway to calculate emissions associated with our purchased goods and services, and capital goods expenditure, so that this can also be incorporated into our emissions baseline.

9. Sustainability governance

9.1 Environmental sustainability is overseen by the Environmental Operations Group (EOG), chaired by a member of the Vice Chancellor’s Executive (VCE). The Group considers the environmental strategy and how its aims are being achieved. The Group is responsible for the delivery of the University’s net zero carbon by 2030 target.

9.2 It is the role of the EOG to devise and deliver the environmental sustainability strategy and report to the VCE on progress.

9.3 The EOG will approve and monitor sustainability objectives for identified areas to support the delivery of the strategy; with focus on operations, communications and education. The VCE and the Sustainability Management Board (SMB) receive receive regular updates on progress towards the sustainability business targets. The SMB is responsible for the delivery of the SDGs.

9.4 Progress towards achieving identified objectives will be communicated to all staff and students through the EOG and SMB. UWL’s environmental sustainability performance can also be reviewed by the public especially through its annual report, the Higher Education Statistics Agency and People & Planet University League table.