At University of Bath, we are a community dedicated to embedding climate action and sustainability throughout all aspects of the institute and university life. The start of a new academic year serves as a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the previous year while setting our sights on the goals and challenges ahead.

The Climate Action Framework is all-encompassing with four key work areas: Education, Research, Footprint and Partnerships. Climate Action at Bath goes far beyond just carbon reduction. Collectively, we are evolving the curriculum, driving impactful research and recognising the power of partnerships in the fight against climate change and sustainability challenges. Bath is committed to transformational change to tackle the climate crisis and, to achieve our ambitious goals, it will require collaboration and collective action to drive change across all areas of our work and community.

2024 Climate Action Report

Our latest Climate Action Annual Report shines a light on our collective progress in the past year, celebrating successes while transparently addressing the challenges we continue to face. Colleagues and students are continually demonstrating a remarkable commitment to leading positive change and we hope that the case studies in this report will provide the motivation and inspiration for further engagement and participation from our community.

Headline activities from the past year include:

  • we launched several multimillion-pound research projects to tackle climate change in various focus areas, including construction, transport, energy and food production
  • we have taken steps to embed sustainability in the curriculum, including holding the UK’s largest Climate Fresk and innovative approaches demonstrated by academics, such as these examples from the departments of Electronic & Electrical Engineering and Chemical Engineering
  • we’re taking action to reduce our footprint, including through our lab sustainability programme, LEAF, which now has 150 labs registered from 10 departments, with 12% having already achieved certification
  • ActNowFilm premiered at COP28 where the University joined the official delegation for the first time

Elsewhere in the past year, our annual Climate Action and Sustainability Awards were a great success celebrating over 400 staff and student change-makers in our community.

These headlines highlight the University’s ongoing dedication to climate action and sustainability while also recognising the critical role that individual actions play in achieving long-term impact.

Annual sustainability survey

Each year, we conduct an all-staff and all-student survey to provide a tangible way in which our community can be part of guiding University actions on sustainability, alongside other priorities, and also to support our understanding of opportunities, barriers and impacts of change.

A desire for supported training and education on a formal and informal basis was a key takeaway from the last survey. Following this feedback, we are taking practical action in introducing new training courses for all members of staff. We are excited to share the University’s ambitious commitments and how you can be part of delivering real change. Keep an eye out for our upcoming survey in November 2024 to use your voice and make a difference.

New courses available for staff:

Book both courses via Employee Self-Service (ESS).

Take action

As a staff member at Bath, you are part of a vibrant community of change-makers and there are many ways that you can get involved according to your job role. Here we've shared just a few ideas to help get you started.

  • buy less and buy better: purchasing goods and services accounts for around ½ of our total carbon footprint so if you are able to find ways to reduce the amount of purchasing done via your role, this is a significant way to help reduce our impact
  • learn more and take a deep dive into climate change, and the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities as part of a Climate Literacy Course
  • mix up your commute: find out how active travel is supported by the University

For lab users:

  • join LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) to take impactful sustainability actions in your lab
  • attend our 'Introduction to Lab Sustainability & LEAF' course on Thursday 17 October to find out more

Beyond the University

Taking action is not confined to the workplace; you can make an impact at home and in your community.

  • be an active consumer, investor, voter and role model
  • improve your home’s energy efficiency: B&NES council offer grants for energy-related home improvements for residents on low incomes and you could attend Bath Green Open Homes this Saturday 12 October and Sunday 13 October 2024

Discover other ways you can get involved as a member of staff and view our quick guide to sustainable working practices.

We are proud of the climate action and sustainability progress we have made so far, and with your continued involvement, we can advance change even further. Together, we have the opportunity to make a lasting impact.