LJMU sets sustainability targets for next five years
LJMU has set out its sustainability targets for the next five years to move towards its ambition of reaching net zero carbon.
The university has published its Climate and Sustainability Plan 2025-2030 which outlines the steps LJMU is taking to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices across all university activity.
The plan contains key actions across a range of themes from biodiversity and green spaces to sustainable procurement and community engagement.
The targets in the plan align with UN Global Sustainability Goals and are based around strong collaborations both within the university and with external partners locally, nationally and globally.
The LJMU Climate and Sustainability Plan addresses the most urgent themes facing the planet and underscores our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, enhancing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable practices across all aspects of university life.
Professor Phil Vickerman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) and Strategic Lead for Climate and Sustainability
Key environmental targets
The university’s key performance indicators and targets for the next five years include:
- Reducing Scopes 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions by lowering energy and water consumption and increasing the electricity generated on site
- Working with local transport partners to get a fair and practical pricing structure for sustainable travel for our commuting students and staff
- Achieving 70% recycling rate and maintaining 100% of non-recyclable waste being sent to energy-from-waste
- Providing carbon awareness or sustainability training courses for staff and students
- Increasing the environmental sustainability of our research and innovation work by enabling and encouraging a sustainable research culture at LJMU
- Creating new green spaces which are engaging and available to the public and our LJMU community
- Increasing species richness across our estate by 10% against a 2025 baseline
Professor Phil Vickerman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) and Strategic Lead for Climate and Sustainability, said: “The LJMU Climate and Sustainability Plan addresses the most urgent themes facing the planet and underscores our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, enhancing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable practices across all aspects of university life.
“By embedding sustainability into our core operations, research, place and partnership, and educational programmes, we aim to inspire and equip our community to contribute positively to global environmental goals.
“Integrating climate change initiatives into research, curriculum and campus operations fosters innovation and prepares our students to address environmental challenges in their careers.”
Building on our successes
The commitments in the Climate and Sustainability Plan build on the significant progress made through LJMU’s Climate Action Plan, which was launched in 2022.
Key activity delivered over the last three years includes:
- The creation of the Liverpool Research Institute for Climate and Sustainability (LiRICS)
- Securing significant external grants for decarbonisation projects on the estate
- Earning Gold EcoCampus status, winning Net Zero Carbon Strategy of the Year from the Energy Managers Association and achieving the university’s highest People and Planet score to date
- The establishment of an Environmental Sustainability and Energy Team to shape and drive workstreams
- The development of several key delivery plans including Carbon Management, Biodiversity, Active and Sustainable Travel, and Environmental Sustainability Communications and Engagement.
More information
Read the Climate and Sustainability Plan 2025-2030 in full.
