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Every year on the 22nd of April, the world celebrates Earth Day, serving as a global reminder of the environmental consequences of how we live, work and move through the world. This year’s theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, calls for a united global effort to triple renewable energy generation by 2030.
At the University of Liverpool, this means taking real steps to cut emissions, use resources more efficiently, and support evidence-based change through research and education. As part of our new Sustainability Strategy, the University is working towards achieving net zero carbon, while contributing to the systems, technologies and policies needed for environmental progress.
In line with this year’s theme, the University is making significant strides through the development of a new Energy Strategy and the strengthening of global partnerships, including with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), to drive forward shared sustainability goals and initiatives.
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Shaping a new vision for energy
A new Energy Strategy is currently being developed to address a range of objectives, including a focus on energy efficiency, resilience, and partnership opportunities. Critically, the strategy will also address the University’s decarbonisation targets and underpin a key success measure in the new Sustainability Strategy for Achieving a transition to Net Zero in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035, and scope 3 by 2050, in line with the commitments articulated in Liverpool 2031 Strategic Framework.
Over the coming months, stakeholder consultation and further development of the Energy Strategy will continue, with opportunities for staff and students to get involved. This collaborative process is key to shaping a strategy that is practical, forward-looking and aligned with the University’s long-term sustainability objectives. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved in shaping the strategy, contact Rachael Hanmer Dwight, Head of Environmental Sustainability and Energy Services, at r.hanmer-dwight@liverpool.ac.uk.
Tackling global energy challenges through research
Supporting the shift to more efficient, decarbonised energy systems extends beyond our estate and campus operations. In line with ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, researchers across the University of Liverpool are addressing global environmental challenges by focusing on practical, scalable solutions.
The CLEAN-Air (Africa) programme is addressing the health and climate impacts of household air pollution (HAP) in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda. This initiative focuses on improving air quality monitoring and supporting policy development to build the infrastructure and expertise needed for cleaner, healthier cities. By reducing reliance on polluting energy sources, the programme contributes to mitigating climate change and enhancing public health outcomes across the region.
In the maritime sector, University of Liverpool researchers are addressing some of the most complex energy and environmental challenges linked to offshore and maritime activity. Through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions (N0MES), 52 highly skilled researchers are pursuing multidisciplinary, engineering-led studies into renewable energy generation from offshore wind, tidal, hydrogen and other sources. Their work spans innovations in energy distribution from offshore to onshore, as well as addressing the environmental impacts of renewable energy generation, distribution and storage in maritime environments. In collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University and 33 maritime energy sector partners, N0MES is helping to shape the UK’s transition to low-carbon energy through research grounded in real-world application and industry need.
Celebrating Earth Day on campus
To celebrate Earth Day 2025, we offered a behind-the-scenes look at how we generate and manage energy on campus. On Tuesday 22nd April, visitors were invited to join a guided tour of the University’s Energy Centre, home to the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engines that supply heat and electricity to much of our estate. The tour offered an opportunity to learn more about how we’re working to reduce energy use, improve efficiency, and prepare our infrastructure for low-carbon future. Learn more about the event here.
Building global connections
Sustainability at the University of Liverpool is also about building meaningful collaborations both nationally, and internationally. This Earth Day, we are recognising our growing international collaboration with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China, where students and staff are marking the day with their very own ‘Earth Week’, filled with exciting activities and events. As part of a shared commitment to sustainability, we’re working together on student engagement and knowledge exchange. These global connections reflect the spirit of Earth Day, linking local action to global ambition, and are key to advancing more sustainable systems, together.
Find out more
Our response to the climate crisis is part of the University’s wider approach to sustainability, supported by our Sustainability Strategy; a vision which aims to drive forward social and environmental equity through our research, education and operations, making a positive impact within and beyond our boundaries. If you want to know more about our work on sustainability, please contact sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk.
Visit our Earth Day 2025 hub for more information on Earth Day, the official theme, updates, and how to get involved.