Sustainability mission statement
Sustainability is essential to planetary health and human flourishing. Rigorous learning and new knowledge are central to sustainability. Through our operations and academic activities, the University has a vital role in facilitating sustainable forms of living. We are committed to embodying sustainable forms of production and consumption within this 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.
Throughout history, many human cultures have worked to sustain thriving communities. Each brings important knowledge and values that contribute to how we understand and live sustainably today. Traditional knowledges and values are central to our missions as a place-based and globally connected University. We honour Tasmanian Aboriginal deep connections to Country and cultural wisdom, which guide our commitment to sustainability and community wellbeing. The University also respects other traditional knowledges and value systems of the many cultures that constitute the multicultural society of Tasmania.
Strategy, Policy and Stewardship for Sustainability
The University of Tasmania Strategic Plan: 2025 Strategic Refresh focuses on supporting the transitions we need to see Tasmania make by 2050. We will focus our efforts and contributions where we can make a real difference – education, health, productivity, and climate – as well as nurturing our Tasmanian stories to ground us in our sense of place and help us envision a hopeful future.
Our Sustainability Policy outlines nine principles to guide behaviour and decision-making to achieve outcomes that reflect the University's commitment to inclusive and equitable sustainability practices in, and informed by, its governance, teaching, research, community engagement and operations.
Our Stewardship for Sustainability (PDF 4.9 MB) document sets out the University's approach to caring for people, place and planet through everything we do. It explains what we mean by stewardship for sustainability, why it matters to our mission, and how it is embedded across governance, teaching, research, engagement and operations. The document outlines our commitments, priorities and focus areas, providing a shared framework that guides decision-making, supports accountability, and helps track progress towards a sustainable and just future for Tasmania and the world. The document provides a collective focus on activities in and for sustainability across the University and encapsulates our commitment across four areas:
Carbon neutral means taking action to reduce and remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as an organisation puts into it. Being carbon neutral means that we have a carbon footprint equal to zero
We pledged for the Nature Positive Universities Network
In 2022, the University made the official pledge to commit to a Nature Positive journey journey, as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Our pledge recognises actions we’ve already taken and how we will build on these.
We joined Race to Zero
Race To Zero is 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.
We signed the Principles for Responsible Management Education
The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), a United Nations supported initiative, equips management students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow, through advancing the Sustainable Development Goals
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.
We have secured a Green Bond to finance sustainable assets
Our Green Bond Framework commits the University to a minimum target reduction of 20% in the upfront carbon emissions embedded in construction of new campus buildings.
Listening to our students and staff
The University of Tasmania’s latest biennial sustainability survey shows the vast majority of our students 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 a proprietary survey called the Sustainability Culture Indicator (SCI) from Awake P.L.
- The student survey uses mostly the same questions under an agreement with the SCI authors, but with additional university-specific questions, such as queries on climate action and modern slavery.
Grants
The University of Tasmania has a rich history of grants that help us achieve some of our sustainability outcomes.
Past grants
Coordinating our effort
Our commitment to ensuring sustainability outcomes are a major focus and considered at 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.
