The Concordat commits the University to ensuring its world-leading research is delivered as sustainably as possible.
The signing of the document comes just two months after the University was named the 12th most sustainable university in the world in the 2025 QS World Sustainability Rankings.
It was also the first university in the world to receive 100% Green Labs Certification, when all 990 of its laboratories gained the accreditation.
By signing the Concordat, the University pledges to improve its sustainability in six areas: Leadership and System Change, Sustainable Infrastructure, Sustainable Procurement, Emissions from Business and Academic Travel, Collaborations and Partnerships, Environmental Impact and Reporting Data.
It also commits the University to sharing its improvement plans and to publish annual summaries on its progress.
Launched on 25 April 2024, the Concordat was co-developed by the UK Research & Innovation sector and reflects a shared ambition to deliver cutting-edge research, but in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way.
Professor Michele Acuto, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, said: “Universities need to take shared action to reduce environmental impacts and emissions, and achieve the transition to sustainable practices.
“The University of Bristol is already doing a lot of good work in this area and has earned an excellent reputation for leading the way on sustainability. However, we recognise there is more work that can be done both within our university and the sector as a whole, and signing the Concordat is another significant step in the right direction.”
The University of Bristol’s researchers are tackling some of the planet’s greatest issues – from climate change and biodiversity loss to improving health outcomes and addressing domestic violence – and are passing their knowledge onto the next generation of young minds through their teaching.
The University is home to the world-leading Cabot Institute for the Environment which carries out research to tackle challenges such as food security, water, city futures, environmental change, and natural hazards and disaster risk.
Other recent sustainability successes at the University include:
- Mapping across its cafes has reduced the carbon footprint of its homemade food by 27%
- A new climate education programme has trained dozens of facilitators to run sustainability workshops
- 50% of its vehicle fleet is now fully electric
- More solar panels have been installed, creating 500kW of solar capacity, which at its peak is enough to charge 70 electric vehicles at once
- Several funding pots help to spark new ideas, including the Cabot Institute for the Environment's Seedcorn Fund which has increased to £30,000 a year to support bold research initiatives
Bristol joins the likes of Cambridge University, University College London and the British Academy in signing the Concordat.
Learn more about the University of Bristol's work to tackle climate change here.