Action Plans and Reports

The University of Suffolk takes a strategic approach to sustainable development across all its operations and activities.

In 2015 the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals to transform our world.  The University of Suffolk, with over 3430 students and 433 staff based across its campuses, is committed to working closely with key local and national partners to play its role in the realisation of these goals.  Meeting our sustainable development objectives is crucial to both students, staff, and the wider local community. Within this community, we share a vital academic and economic position across the region; coupled with an accountability to ensure the protection of the condition of our immediate and global environment through the pursuit of excellence in environmental management, social and corporate responsibility.

Implementing sustainability management programmes within our facilities and estate allows us to operate our campuses efficiently and innovatively; whilst minimising negative impacts on the wider environment and working towards environmental net benefit gains. In recent years the University has made significant progress in improving its own sustainability performance and is gaining national recognition, for it’s leadership in developing and facilitating innovative projects, agenda setting conferences and events on emerging transformative practice.

We are committed to sustainability throughout all of our activities, from the operation and management of our campuses, through to teaching and learning, research and knowledge exchange. Further realised through the external leadership work we conduct through the University’s, Suffolk Sustainability Institute, in collaboration with our partnership organisations. Learn about what our University is doing to lead sustainability by example, and do your part as a campus citizen.

In particular, as the University grows, we will continue to confront the global challenge of climate change.  Reducing energy consumption and emissions remains one of our top priorities and we are delighted to celebrate, that through focused investment and energy efficiency management we have met the HEI sector challenge of reducing our CO2e by 43% by 2020.  There is still however, much work to be done and production is underway for a new Carbon Plan to take us in to 2025. 

Meeting our sustainable development objectives is crucial to students, staff, and the wider local community to which we share a vital academic and economic position across the region; coupled with an accountability to ensure the protection of the condition of our immediate and global environment through the pursuit of excellence in social and corporate responsibility.