Environmental Sustainability in Research and Innovation Practice

The University is committed to ensuring that research is delivered in an environmentally sustainable way. We are a signatory of the UK Concordat for Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.

University Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, wrote a letter on Tuesday 6 August 2024 endorsing the Concordat:

I am delighted to confirm that the University of St Andrews is a signatory to the UK Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. 

St Andrews shares in the ambition of our sector to continue delivering cutting-edge research in an ever more environmentally responsible and sustainable way. This ambition is captured in the Sustainable St Andrews theme of our University Strategy 2022-2027.

We recognise and are already working towards objectives in the six priority areas of the Concordat: 

1. Leadership and system change
2. Sustainable infrastructure
3. Sustainable procurement
4. Emissions from business and academic travel
5. Collaborations and partnerships
6. Environmental impact and reporting data  

St Andrews understands that a sustainable transition in research and innovation practice will require a concerted effort across our community, the sector, and policy makers over the coming years, and is glad to play a leadership role in this. 

Further information on the Concordat is available on the Wellcome Trust website. 

Yours sincerely

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE 
Principal and Vice-Chancellor

The Concordat requires near term engagement as well as a transition to how research is designed and delivered in the longer term. In line with the World-leading and Sustainable themes of the University Strategy, a working group is taking an institutional response forward.

The group is engaged with colleagues across the six priority areas identified in the Concordat, including sustainability in our labs, our approach to travel, and procurement for research equipment.

Driving change in the way we conduct our research requires a whole sector response as well as an institutional and individual one. A number of funders are also signatories of the Concordat and some have developed additional policies relating to research:

• Wellcome Trust Environmental Sustainability Policy
• UKRI Sustainability Environmental Strategy

You can find out more about actions at the University of St Andrews to create positive environmental change on the Sustainability website and in our University Strategy.