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Our commitments

To facilitate the University addressing the impacts of climate change, we have made a series of commitments aligned to the pillars of the Sustainability Strategy.

Sustainable Campus and Operations

We are committed to achieving a transition to net zero for scopes 1 and 2 by 2035, and scope 3 by 2050.  This approach is supported through a strong framework of plans which outline how we operate sustainably and drive emissions reductions. These include:   

  • Environmental Policy 
  • Business travel and expenses policy 
  • Ethical investment policy 
  • Energy strategy 
  • Procurement strategy 
  • Guidance for sustainable design and performance of our campus developments  
  • Waste management plan 
  • Travel plan  

Each of these documents have their own related actions which are governed through individual routes to hold them to account. 

Research and Impact 

The foundations of the University are built upon research, and we continue to develop solutions and knowledge, responding to global sustainability challenges. We are in clear pursuit of climate protection and continue to align our Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange to the UN SDGs, ensuring our approach to research is ethical and transparent. We work collaboratively with the wider research community, including funding bodies and other universities, to drive a just and equitable transition to low carbon through research in its widest sense.  

We are a member of the N8 Network which is a collaboration between the eight most research-intensive Universities in the North of England. As part of this partnership we contributing to the Carbon Operational Knowledge Exchange Project.  

In 2024, the University was one of the first Higher Education Institutes to sign up to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. The concordat represents a shared ambition for the UK to continue delivering cutting-edge research, but in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way.  

Additionally, in late 2024 the University opened the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research. The Centre’s mission is to support teams of researchers who can collectively tackle the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. It will bring together different researchers with a variety of knowledge, experience and skills from across the University, as well as engaging with national and international experts.  

Education and Student Experience

Our ambition is to provide an education that equips all graduates with the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will enable them to make their own contribution to a sustainable future, both personally and professionally.  

We deliver a range of sustainability focused undergraduate and postgraduate education, programmes, including programmes aimed directly at researching and learning about climate change. As well as this, all students have access to a range of extracurricular activities related to sustainability via The Guild and Careers & Employability. All students receive an opportunity to study sustainability through the Student Sustainability Hub. The Hub is the online home for the Student Sustainability Network featuring a collection of resources: self-study online courses; a diary of events; and a database of projects, volunteering, and work placement opportunities.  

In May 2025 the University launched its Living Lab programme which provides the opportunity for students to get involved with hands on research within coursework and extracurricular activities, enabling them to apply their disciplinary knowledge to real world challenges on campus.

People and Culture

We recognise the need to ensure our ambition and commitment are reflected in our university culture. We embed sustainability across all relevant strategies, policies and practices, to ensure that sustainability is taken into consideration in all decision making and activity. We place equity at the heart of our approach ensuring we are aligned to our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion commitments. We provide training opportunities for staff through various channels, including induction, online and face to face. Our comprehensive communication and engagement plan supports this work, through targeted staff engagement, knowledge sharing and reporting of our progress. 

Global Engagement and Partnerships 

As an anchor institution in the city of Liverpool, the University is well placed to work in partnership with city and regional partners, including Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Combined Regional Authority, Knowledge Quarter partners, local organisations and the third sector, to develop solutions and innovations to help us achieve our collective sustainability commitments.  

Beyond the UK, we are internationally recognised for being a global institution, this includes our joint ventures with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and the University of Liverpool Bengaluru, in India. This gives us a unique position in accessing global partnerships that work tackling the climate crisis.  

We engage with industry and sector specific bodies including IEMA (The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) and EAUC (Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges – the sustainability champion for the Higher and Further Education sector in the UK) to access best practice and partnering opportunities.