Our united response to the climate and biodiversity crises
Our united response to the climate and biodiversity crises
To help us both mitigate against and adapt to these emergencies, we’re embedding environmental sustainability into absolutely everything we do – from how we maintain and develop our buildings and 135-acres parkland estate, to what food we serve in our outlets, and what we research and teach.
Our University strategy and sustainability plan
RH2030s, our University strategy, was launched in 2024 and commits us to being one of London’s most sustainable Universities and, in the process, empowering our students, colleagues and partners to be environmental game-changers. In 2024, we also published our second sustainability plan, which outlines our specific energy, waste, water and biodiversity targets over the next two years and what actions we will complete to achieve them.
Delivering net zero
Our electricity supply is now zero carbon, boosted by four solar panel arrays. The majority of our fleet is electric, we’ve recently installed three new heatpumps, and no waste goes to landfill. We're expanding our Carbon Literacy training and proudly hold a 3-star Sustainable Restaurant Award.
Research and education leadership
We’re also world-leading in our research and education, integrating sustainability across all six schools. Our research spans from climate reconstruction to sustainability in film production, and from greenhouse gases to how climate change is recorded in classic literature.
We have a way to go, but this is integral to our sense of mission as a university of social purpose.
Ongoing sustainability initiatives
We still need to decarbonise the majority of our estate and improve the energy efficiency of our heritage buildings. We need to keep improving how we use water and produce waste, too, and make sure that we’re managing our land to increase biodiversity as much as possible.
We’re also working to ensure that every single student receives sustainability training and can engage with environmental sustainability during their time at Royal Holloway. Many of our students are active volunteers and contribute strongly to campus-based projects such as habitat restoration.
Feel free to contact Mark Berry, Head of Sustainability, for any further information.
Mark Berry, Head of Sustainability
Klaus Dodds, Executive Dean of the School of Life Sciences and the Environment
