UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address humanity’s greatest challenges. The University of Liverpool is committed to advancing these goals through research, education, and operations. Through our commitment to these goals, we strive to integrate sustainability into our business practices and operations, to collaborating with partners in support of the goals; and to sharing best practice. Here you will find our latest Sustainable Development Goals Report, showcasing our efforts to support the SDGs while aligning with the University’s strategic vision and objectives.

In 2023 the University launched its new strategic framework Liverpool 2031, setting out an ambitious new vision for the University and several key priorities for sustainability, brought together under a cross-cutting theme which supports our commitments to the SDGs.

As an institution we are already making significant progress towards the sustainability ambitions set out in our previous Sustainability Strategy, published in February 2021, but since the launch of the University’s new strategic framework, work has been underway to develop a new Sustainability Strategy which will build upon our progress to-date and ensure we are making an equal contribution to the SDGs throughout our research, education and operations.

During 2023-24 we have signed the UKRI Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, held another successful Sustainability Week, developed a Sustainable Events Guide, launched sustainability training opportunities and an induction for staff, achieved gold award success in the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), and delivered ground-breaking research that is helping the UK to transition to clean, affordable energy. Throughout COP28, we showcased how Liverpool’s research can influence future policy, governance and innovation to combat the global climate crisis.

We are proud to have risen 100 places and ranked among the world’s top 50 for environmental and social impact in the annual QS Sustainability Rankings, boosting the University’s position in the QS World Rankings. We are in the top 100 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024, and there was further good news from the 2023/24 People & Planet League where the University was ranked among the UK’s top 50 for its environmental and ethical performance. 

In the following sections, we have summarised some of our unique commitments to the individual goals over the past 12 months. Click on any of the goals to find out more, or download a copy of the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023-24.