Aberystwyth University is a research-led institution in Wales, UK.
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Aberystwyth has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 50% from 2005 baseline and publishes statutory HESA data annually, backed by £10m renewable investment. Major gaps: no Scope 3 quantification despite baselines, no SBTi validation of net-zero 2030 target, water and biodiversity programmes lack formal reduction targets or third-party certification.
Aberystwyth University scores 55/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Fees pay for the review, never the result. Last verified September 2026.
That places Aberystwyth University joint 50th of 847 companies scored, and joint 8th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where Aberystwyth University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Aberystwyth University is tied =8th of 67, with 2 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No full quantification of all material categories.
No pollution incidents or discharge non-compliance found.
No TNFD disclosure or quantified biodiversity footprint.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Evidence that isn't public can count through an evidence review.
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Get in touch →Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain and Water Impact (4/10, 4/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Aberystwyth University.
RGU has delivered a 50.9% absolute emissions reduction since 2005 and exceptional waste performance (98.4% recycling), but renewable energy procurement remains negligible at 0%.
See the breakdown →Swansea University reports 45% absolute emissions cuts and third-party verified waste certification, but relies on grid electricity (0% green tariff), lacks SBTi validation, and reversed its fossil fuel careers fair exclusion in 2026—a specific credible retreat from prior climate commitments.
See the breakdown →York St John has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 67.5% since 2005 and publishes statutory data via HESA.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 12 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
7 of 12 sources are independent of the company.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (Kg CO2e), 2023/24, UKPRN 10007856: 6,688.3 tCO₂e”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“annually monitor our carbon performance to compare this with our baseline year of 2019-2020”
“Aberystwyth University scored 0/5% for reporting scope 3 emissions to HESA via the EMR record”
“It has reduced its emissions by 43 per cent in the last four years”
“Aberystwyth signed the Nature Positive Pledge in early 2023”
“Aberystwyth University became the first University in the World to be granted the Plastic Free University Certificate”
“In April 2024 the Welsh Government introduced the Recycling Legislation”
“Read our 2023 Sustainable Procurement Review below - with reviews carried out every 3 years”
“The £2.9m investment will provide up to 25% of the annual electricity needs of the Penglais Campus”
“Supported by the Energy Service, Aberystwyth University is progressing toward its 2030 net zero target”
“It is anticipated that offsetting will not be allowed, which I think is a very bold decision”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Aberystwyth University is a research-led institution in Wales, UK. With a 1,709-hectare estate across three campuses, it delivers undergraduate and postgraduate education in sciences, arts, and social sciences. The university operates a mid-sized higher education carbon footprint typical of UK research universities.
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