Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals - Strategy and Vision

At the University of Bradford we recognise the necessity to adapt our approach to reflect the changing international, national, and local challenges of climate change. We are making progress in establishing ourselves as a sustainable university. To assist in achieving this strategic goal, we embed consideration of our contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into our research, learning, teaching and operations. We also hold permanent observer status for Conference of the Parties (COP) and are signatory to SDG Accord which inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the SDGs. Secondly, the Accord is a commitment learning institutions are making to one another to do more to deliver the goals. These awards recognise the University’s strategic commitment towards achieving its sustainability objectives.

We have three main goals:

To have a sustainable campus and university
To drive sustainable social and economic development through outstanding teaching, research and innovation
To motivate the next generation of students to go out and tackle the sustainability challenges through their learning

The annually approved University budget supports sustainability in three ways:

A specific budget pays for the staff and operating costs of the Sustainability team (including the Student Prize fund)
More generally, the University budget supports the strategic objective to embed a consideration of the SDGs in the University’s teaching, research and operations. The budget is allocated to faculties and service departments, and funds the staff and operating costs deployed to advance sustainability as reflected in the Sustainability Leadership Scorecard. Examples include: research furthering the SDGs; sustainable procurement; teaching related to the SDGs; improving energy efficiency; health and wellbeing initiatives; managing a biodiverse campus; business and community engagement initiatives; and a host of EDI activity.
The University provides a subsidy to the University of Bradford Union, whose activities include student engagement on sustainability.

The University’s annual report and accounts includes a section on Governance, Planet, People and Prosperity, which sets out how the University deploys these resources in support of sustainability

Biodiversity

Our sustainable campus reduces our impact on the environment.

Get involved

Students and staff get engaged in activities that promote sustainability.

Food and drink

Fairtrade is part of our strategy for a more sustainable world.

Sustainability in the Curriculum

We embed sustainability into our teaching.

Sustainable transport

Green Travel options provide a cleaner environment and a healthier lifestyle.

Sustainable Transport

Solar panels on the roof of the University of Bradford.

Energy and carbon

We aim to get the campus off grid through onsite electricity generation.

News from Sustainability

Sustainability Day on 17th November

Students posing after plantation in allotment

Gardening initiative launched by Sustainability Society

Professor Anand received Green Gown Award success as Highly Commended

Green Gown Award success, awarded as Highly Commended

University of Bradford students take part in Climate Justice Debate Challenge

Students participate in Climate Justice Debate Challenge

Bronze award that is awarded to university for hedgehog friendly campus

Hedgehog friendly campus bronze award

A student presenting research in sustainability conference in Leeds

Student presents research paper in Sustainability Conference at Leeds

Sustainability Society collaborates in cleanliness drive

Students sustained by cost of living initiative

University awarded REC bronze award for addressing race issues

Green Gown nomination for sustainability champion

University of Bradford awarded Fairtrade status

Everyone has a moral obligation to live sustainably. Our project is to bring about informed behaviour change, so that as individuals, and together as the University, we take the right small and big steps, to protect the planet and make the world a better place.
Stuart McKinnon-Evans, Sustainability Programme Sponsor

Our people

Our team works closely with internal and external partners to deliver our sustainable initiatives. Our partners include Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and many local charities and organisations. In addition to these partnerships, we engage with our student community through their elected sabbatical officers and have recruited a number of student Green Ambassadors who run environmental projects throughout the year.

Here are some of the key staff with sustainability within their remits: