Protecting our planet

The updated policy recognises the significant progress made since the publication of the previous policy in 2016. It also incorporates several new commitments informed by the University-wide consultation which took place in 2024. This includes a commitment to social investment, recognising the University’s £8 million Social Investment Fund; decarbonising investment portfolios to meet the University’s net zero by 2040 target, following a 1.5°C pathway against a 2018 baseline; a commitment to exploring nature-positive investment strategies; and improving transparency and reporting processes.

Responsible investment

The policy also commits to further addressing specific issues following guidance from the Responsible Investment Advisory Group.

The University committed a further £1 million to Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) from its £8 million Social Investment Fund. SASC has already contributed significantly to Simon Community Scotland providing housing for 30 people who have experienced homelessness in Edinburgh.

Socially positive investments

The University’s Climate Strategy successor was approved by the University’s governing body, the University Court, in April 2025. The strategy, due to be published next academic year, reflects a step-change in ambition, and sets out how the University will seek to minimise negative environmental impacts while actively restoring natural, biophysical systems, to ensure a net positive environmental and social impact, through our learning and teaching; research and innovation; people and culture; and operations.

The Forest & Peatland Programme successfully completed the planting of the first two sites, at Drumbrae and Rullion Green, planting in excess of half a million trees that will sequester in the region of 100,000 tonnes of carbon over the life of the project. Six partnerships have now been agreed, which will provide the majority of the carbon required to meet the objective of one million tonnes of carbon across owned and partnership sites.

The University published its annual review of innovation of activity, which for the first time, included information on climate and sustainability commercialisation. Case studies and the percentage of the University’s commercialisation activity focused on the themes of carbon, biodiversity, circular economy, water, and novel entities, where included, a first in the sector.

The University was recognised for its leadership on environmental and social impact, placing seventh in the world in the 2025 QS World University Rankings for Sustainability.