Sustainability mission statement
Sustainability is essential to planetary health and human flourishing. Through our operations and academic activities, we have a vital role in facilitating sustainable forms of living. We uphold that sustainability is central to open and rigorous learning and knowledge creation that also recognises thousands of human generations of Tasmanian Aboriginal and other traditional knowledges and value systems.
We are committed to embodying sustainable forms of production and consumption within the University and enable pathways towards a just and viable future. We commit to accountability and authenticity in our endeavours. We empower the University’s students, staff and alumni to be facilitators in their fields and contribute to sustainable living now and into the future.
Strategy, framework and policies
The University of Tasmania Strategic Plan 2019-2024 (PDF 2.5MB) identifies the contributions we wish to make for Tasmania, as well as nationally and globally, across several key outcome areas: education, health, culture, social, economy and environment.
Our Strategic Framework for Sustainability (PDF 3.5MB) provides a collective focus on activities in and for sustainability across the University and encapsulates our commitment across four areas:
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Goal 1:
A leader in sustainability governance and implementation
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Goal 2:
A leader in sustainability education and research
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Goal 3:
Partnerships and engagement activities deliver sustainability outcomes
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Goal 4:
A university committed to sustainability in its facilities and operations
Our Sustainability Policy outlines nine principles to guide behaviour and decision making to achieve outcomes which reflect the University's commitment to inclusive and equitable sustainability practices.
We joined Race to Zero
A global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, educational institutions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
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We're committed to the UN SDGs
The University of Tasmania signed the University Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals in 2019. We agree to support the Goals and contribute to achieving sustainable development by 2030.
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Signing the Talloires Declaration
In 2009, the University signed the global Talloires Declaration — a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at universities.
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Listening to our current students and staff
The University of Tasmania’s latest biennial sustainability survey shows almost 75% of our students agree or strongly agree that the University has a clear commitment to sustainability — and much more to do.
The Sustainability Committee conducts a biennial sustainability survey to gain insights into student and staff perceptions, aspirations, and behaviours on sustainability in general and on the sustainability performance of the university specifically. Survey results inform implementation of university strategies and are used in benchmarking, development of key performance indicators and delivery of sustainability initiatives and programs.
The survey is run as two separate surveys:
- The staff survey is wholly a proprietary survey called the Sustainability Culture Indicator (SCI) from Awake P.L.
- The student survey uses the majority of the same questions under an agreement with the SCI authors, but with additional university-specific questions, such as queries on carbon neutrality and fossil fuel divestment.
2022 Sustainability Survey
2020 Sustainability Survey
2018 Sustainability Survey
2016 Sustainability Survey
Grants
The University of Tasmania has a rich history of grants focusing on sustainability.
Past grants
Coordinating our effort
Our commitment to ensuring sustainability outcomes are a major focus and taken into account in all levels of decision making and activities has led to the establishment of sustainability as a mission integrator.
Our Sustainability Committee plays a key role in enabling the achievement of the University’s sustainability objectives through the Strategic Framework for Sustainability.
