The Climate Emergency

Our action on the climate emergency

In 2019, we signed the Global Universities and Colleges Climate Letter, declaring a climate emergency and recognising the need for a drastic societal shift to combat the growing threat of climate change.

From 2021 onwards, our highest-level carbon and climate commitments are included in our Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy and form part of the University’s Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) and respective operational control procedures for Our Working Environment, Our Natural Environment and Our Travel.

Expand the headings below to find out more about our climate action:

Three students walking outside the Abbey on Singleton Campus

Committed to Zero Carbon

As outlined in the Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy, Swansea University is committed to achieving zero carbon for direct emissions (Scope 1 & 2) by 2035, with at least a 70% reduction by 2030. Scope 3 emissions are targeted to reduce by an average of 2.5% per year, aiming for a 50% reduction by 2035 (35% by 2030) from the 2015 HEFCW baseline.

The University sets an annual decarbonisation budget of £3 million, integrated into Estates project planning and aligned with the Decarbonisation Action Plan. The COO and Director of Estates & Campus Services oversee the plan, while Sustainability and Infrastructure Services teams manage monitoring, reporting, and implementation.

Carbon emissions are reported annually alongside other UK higher education institutions on the HESA website. Progress is also reviewed through the University Annual Plan, Environmental Management Review, and the Sustainability Committee. Swansea University is a signatory of the Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges, a global initiative led by the UN Environment Programme, EAUC, and Second Nature.

Referenced and Linked Documents/Resources:

Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy – outlines the University’s overarching sustainability commitments and targets.
Swansea University Decarbonisation Action Plan – details the roadmap for achieving net zero.
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) website – annual carbon reporting for UK universities. Emissions are tracked against the 2015/16 HEFCW baseline year.
Path to Zero Report – published under ISO14001 Environmental Management System, tracking progress toward carbon targets.
Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges – UN-backed global initiative for climate action.

Divestment

The University has committed to divest from fossil fuels.

Collaborating for Action on Climate Change and Nature Recovery

Swansea University supports collective regional efforts on zero carbon as active members of:

Swansea Project Zero, established by the Swansea Climate Change and Nature Action Charter Signatories Group of which we are a member, to meet the Net Zero 2050 commitment made by UK and Welsh Government and support work to put nature into recovery. The Charter Signatories Group comprises of a wide range of organisations with a Swansea presence for action on climate and nature and supports the work of Swansea Public Services Board and Local Well-being Plan.
Low Carbon Swansea Bay (LCSB). LCSB’s overarching purpose is to develop a co-ordinated, integrated and sustainable approach to reducing carbon emissions across all sectors in Swansea and South West Wales.
Swansea Bay Healthy Travel Charter. We are committed to healthier and more sustainable forms of transport. We have signed the Swansea Healthy Travel Charter and are collaborating on its commitments to support student, staff and visitors to walk and cycle more, take public transport, and switch to electric vehicles.