We are committed to delivering solutions to the Net Zero transition and are well-placed to contribute to delivering solutions in the broad areas of energy, food, health and wellbeing, social impact and water. 

Staff Training on our Policies

Durham University provides equality of opportunity, values diversity and promotes a holistic ethical culture of diversity and inclusion. Training on sustainability and our core values is provided to staff at all levels. This includes, inter alia, mandatory training such as specific modules on tackling unconscious bias, for staff involved in recruitment panels and staff serving on progression and promotion committees.

Net Zero Commitment

As part of our Strategy Refresh, Durham University has adopted a new Sustainability Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy and publicly committed to reaching Net Zero, in our Ambition Statement of 2023. Our vision is to ensure that Durham University delivers its mission of excellence in education, research and wider student experience in the most sustainable way possible. We will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) to achieve Net Zero by 2035, or before. This target represents a Science Based Target and is aligned with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. In addition, we set ourselves an ambitious target that tackles, as quickly as possible, our Scope 3 emissions – with a long-term objective of striving to achieve Absolute Zero emissions by 2050.

Energy Management & Water Reuse

Durham University's policy on the reuse of water substantiates our mission to make Durham one of the most environmentally sustainable universities in the UK. To achieve this goal will require us to clearly demonstrate that our energy consumption and reuse of water lead to achieving sustainable practices that can be promoted to our stakeholders, occupants and local communities