Sustainability

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Universities play a vital role in delivering a sustainable future. We support universities to reduce environmental impact, manage climate and nature risks, and build sustainability into strategy, governance and day-to-day operations. Together, we’ll create lasting change that’s joined‑up, credible and deliverable. 

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We help you to

Set pathways towards net zero carbon
Reduce environmental and biodiversity impacts
Understand and manage climate‑related institutional risks
Embed sustainability into strategy and governance
Align planning, resources and delivery
Measure and communicate sustainability impact.

Speak to our expert team

Dr Thomas Owen Smith

Dr Thomas Owen Smith

t.owen-smith@sums.ac.uk

Principal Consultant
View Tom’s profile
Pippa Wisbey

Pippa Wisbey

p.wisbey@sums.ac.uk

Consultant
View Pippa’s profile
SUMS Consulting team

SUMS Consulting team

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Member stories

Emissions baseline and decarbonisation roadmap – LIPA

What happened? The Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts required a robust understanding of its carbon footprint. 

Our approach: We developed a full emissions baseline aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and created a net zero pathway across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. 

The outcomes: A clear, evidence-based decarbonisation roadmap supporting LIPA’s net zero ambitions.

Culture change for a sustainable university – University of Essex

What happened? The University sought to address long-standing sustainability challenges. 

Our approach: A cross-disciplinary team combined sustainability, transformation and change management expertise to develop practical, institution-specific recommendations.

The outcomes: Progress on behavioural and cultural change supporting reductions in carbon emissions. 

Environmental sustainability baseline and decarbonisation pathway – The Royal Society

What happened? The Royal Society aimed to formalise its environmental sustainability approach.

Our approach: We delivered an emissions baseline, biodiversity assessment, sustainability strategy, monitoring framework, climate risk assessment and staff engagement support.

The outcomes: A comprehensive sustainability framework with clear monitoring and delivery mechanisms.

Sustainability materiality assessment – Oxford Brookes University

What happened? Oxford Brookes University sought clarity on material sustainability impacts and risks.  

Our approach: We mapped inward and outward impacts and engaged leadership to integrate findings into planning and decision-making.  

The outcomes: Sustainability priorities embedded into institutional strategy and governance. 

Sustainability (FAQs)

We take a whole-institution approach to sustainability. Our sustainability consulting and advisory work blends specialist sustainability knowledge with expertise from across our practice areas to ensure that recommendations are evidence-based, tested and grounded in the operating realities of our members and clients. Through this approach, we connect sustainability in universities’ operations, estates and value chains to institutional strategy, governance and core activities in education, research and bringing people together.

SUMS knows sustainability and what makes sustainability stick. Our consultants bring experience from leading universities and consultancies, and we have supported institutions across the UK to embed sustainability into their operations, strategy and mission. Our sustainability services are delivered in partnership with EAUC, the sustainability champion for universities and colleges, ensuring that our work is grounded in leading sector thinking and practice.

We work with our members and clients as a partner to co-create solutions that will work for you. You can ask us about any dimension of sustainability and what it means for your institution. It might be cracking a technical question or a building a horizontal agenda such as embedding sustainability into your curriculum or research strategy. Our recommendations are always shaped for you and your context, drawing from our experience across HE and other sectors, current policy developments and science.

Get in touch

Our senior HE consultants bring proven solutions, sector insight and hands-on support. Whatever your challenge, we’ll help you find the right way forward, quickly and confidently. 

Speak to our team of experts

How can we support you?

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