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Sustainability
We have developed practical sustainable solutions on our campuses in London, Dubai and Mauritius through our agile approach, setting an example for others.
We share our knowledge to help us and others respond to the urgent challenges of climate change and unfair production and consumption.
Positive action for people and planet
We are a Top 400 university in the world for our overall contribution to United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023).
We work to celebrate and enhance the critical role that education has in achieving the Goals and we have showed our commitment by signing the SDG Accord.
Read our 2020/21 UN SDG Report
Read our 2021/22 UN SDG Report
Sustainable, inclusive and healthy food for the UK
We believe social enterprises are key to making UK food more sustainable, inclusive and healthy – so our researchers in London are sharing forward-thinking ideas and good practice. They have visited parliament to speak with policy makers about the benefits too.
Advancing sustainability in Dubai
Our Institute of Sustainable Development in Dubai leads collaborative research with businesses, government and UN agencies. They lead training in meeting the SDGs and build a sustainability mindset in their community. We were proud to host the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference Climate Law event on campus.
Eco-conscious spaces on our Mauritius campus
We recently renovated the Trent Park Learning Block in Mauritius to integrate transformative learning with sustainable practices. This holistic approach to looking after our students and staff’s wellbeing, alongside the natural world is a model for future education spaces.
Environmental Auditing, Management Systems, and Policy
Middlesex University operates an Environmental Management System with ISO 14001 accreditation as part of EcoCampus award scheme for the higher and further education sectors. The scheme enables universities to systematically identify, evaluate, manage and improve their environmental performance and practices. We achieved Platinum in 2019. The process of accreditation works on the concept of continual improvement in environmental performance in a number of areas including: waste, energy, carbon reduction, procurement, water, community engagement, construction and refurbishment, education, travel, natural environment.
Our publicly available Environmental Management Policy, provides the cornerstone of the actions which we work to deliver that enable us to work to reducing our environmental impact across all areas, from carbon emissions and water conservation to waste management and biodiversity. Our action plan is rigorously monitored, and progress is reported regularly to senior leadership, ensuring transparency and accountability through our environmental steering group committee.
Read our Environmental Policy May 2022 to find out how we are improving our environmental and energy performance.
Sustainability Steering Group (SSG)
The University’s Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) provides strategic oversight and coordination for a strong and consistent sustainability agenda, ensuring cross-institutional alignment with the University Strategy 2031, thematic sub-strategies, and operational plans, including the Strategic Estate Review. The SSG champions a de-colonial, multi-species perspective to sustainability. This means sensitivity to marginalised voices and to knowledge and values stemming from the global South. In line with this, the SSG supports the University in embedding sustainability across learning, research, operations, governance, and civic engagement; and in reaching set environmental and social sustainability targets, such as Net Zero.
Sustainability in the context of Middlesex University and SSG scope encompasses:
- Environmental Sustainability – reducing carbon and other emissions, improving biodiversity and resource efficiency, and minimising overall ecological impact;
- Social Sustainability – promoting wellbeing, equity, inclusion and community value;
- Institutional Sustainability – embedding longer term thinking in decision making and aligning with principles of good governance and responsible operations.
Our SSG is at the forefront of shaping the University's approach to sustainable operations. The SSG was created to review and authorise relevant policies and other environmental sustainability areas of interest on behalf of the University Executive Team (UET), ensuring they align with Middlesex University’s Strategic Plan. The members provide feedback to their respective area of the community (school or service) on ideas, initiatives and news, while bringing to the Group’s attention any concerns and issues raised by those communities. This ensures flow of information and uniformity of data among stakeholders.
The Sustainability steering group reviews and recommends for the Executive Team’s approval key sustainability policies and monitoring and reporting plans, including a regular review of the University’s Environmental Management Policy, Carbon Reduction Plan and Waste Management Strategy and Plan. It also provides oversight for institutional performance against sustainability policies and targets, and oversees an annual review to support the successful auditing of the University’s environmental accreditation (presently ISO140001/Eco Campus Platinum). The SSG’s membership extends across Academic and Professional Services, Students' Union and Faculties, which enables it to coordinate sustainability initiatives across the University and to assigning responsibility and ensure progress tracking. A key role of the SSG is to encourage and facilitate the integration of sustainability principles into academic programmes, research activity, campus operations, and community engagement.
Regular meetings are held quarterly, in alignment with the University’s planning, reporting and audit cycles. Sustainability Working Group or task-and-finish groups may be established to progress specific initiatives or thematic areas. By participating in the SSG, members advertise the ongoing work within their departments while making sure the work is recognised and integrated into the various data streams and reporting on sustainability. Being a part of the Group also means building stronger links across departments, aligning our objectives, and sharing innovative ideas. The SSG Terms of Reference and other relevant paperwork is reviewed regularly and amended where necessary.
We support sustainable travel
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