Sustainability

Responsible investments and procurement

The University completed its divestment from fossil fuels, marking a significant milestone in its journey to become net zero carbon by 2040.

Video: VIDEO: University completes divestment from fossil fuels
The University has completed its divestment from fossil fuels, marking a significant milestone in its journey to become carbon neutral by 2040.

Divestment completed

Divestment sees the University remove direct and pooled investments in companies involved in the extraction and production of fossil fuels such as coal, tar sands, oil and gas from its portfolio. Removing investments from such companies is a significant way organisations can signal their support for a transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.

This action is part of a range of activities the University is undertaking to tackle the climate crisis and the latest step in the University’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040 – ten years earlier than recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The University’s research and teaching will continue to engage with the fossil fuel industry to aid the transition to a low carbon economy.

Listening to the voices of students was a significant feature of the University’s approach to divestment. The fossil fuel review group which provided the recommendations to the investment committee included student representatives.

News: University completes divestment from fossil fuels

Principles for Responsible Investment

Edinburgh was the first University in Europe to become a member of the Principles for Responsible Investment, a UN-backed initiative which aims to make the global financial system more sustainable. The University has scored ‘straight As’ in the past two years for excellence in responsible investment. 

In 2020, the University became a founding member of a new Responsible Investment Network of Universities, that will explore how universities can invest more ethically. The University continues to identify ways to reduce carbon emissions associated with investments and make a positive contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The University has now invested more than £170 million in low carbon technology, climate-related research and businesses that directly benefit the environment since 2010.

News: University invests £5 million in green projects

Procurement

Procurement provides opportunities for the University to promote fair and ethical supply chains, further delivering positive impact for society. 

The University has been working to identify potential social and environmental impacts of its supply chains, throughout the lifecycle of products and services it procures, from the stage of extracting raw materials all the way up to disposal. This included University procurement policies and practices being benchmarked against the ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement guidance.  

Alongside this work, the University has been developing a better understanding of carbon emissions from its procurement. Spend and non-spend methodologies were used to analyse data from suppliers. Recommendations to improve reporting and identify measures to reduce carbon emissions are being considered. 

The University publishes an annual statement regarding the Modern Slavery Act 2015, setting out its approach to addressing slavery and human trafficking issues in supply chains.

Modern Slavery Statement

Procurement website

Topic: responsible investment

Topic: supply chains & purchasing