Harper Adams University is a specialist agricultural and land-based higher education institution, based in Shropshire, England.
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Harper Adams has documented 36% emissions reductions through 2019 but provides no recent verified data. Scope 3 emissions remain unquantified despite acknowledged significance. Water management is invisible. The university's low-carbon infrastructure is substantial but grid electricity supply verification is absent.
Harper Adams University scores 31/100 (Below expectations) 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 Harper Adams University joint 588th of 847 companies scored, and 63rd of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where Harper Adams University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Harper Adams University sits 63rd of 67.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No water consumption data, reduction targets, or stewardship programme found in public sources post-2022.
Harper Adams explicitly acknowledges Scope 3 emissions (travel, water, waste, procurement) have not been formally calculated.
No post-2022 annual emissions figures found to confirm trajectory maintenance.
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, 5/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (2/10, 3/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Harper Adams University.
University of Cumbria has achieved significant operational emissions reductions (75% from 2005 baseline) but relies entirely on grid electricity with zero renewable energy procurement.
See the breakdown →Trinity Laban operates with documented operational emissions cuts but zero renewable energy procurement and no supply chain emissions data.
See the breakdown →RNCM has decarbonised its single urban building through capital projects (Phase 1 PSDS completed; Phase 2 underway), achieving real absolute emissions cuts.
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.
“Since 2005, the University has been measuring and reducing its scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“Harper Adams operates a 635 hectare (1569 acres) commercial farm on campus”
“Of the 132 HE providers who submitted data for the past two years, 73 (55%) saw a decrease in emissions”
“tasked to baseline biodiversity on the University's Future Farm to support its sustainable transition to Net Zero by 2030”
“green roofs which can alleviate flooding by absorbing rainwater and can also enhance biodiversity”
“Our 494-hectare farm acts as a living lab, where you can see sustainable land management in action”
“Our current waste contractor operates a Zero Waste to Landfill”
“Institutionally Harper Adams University is in its initial phase of embedding sustainability into its campus, curriculum and community”
“The tables include data for the academic years 2015/16 to 2023/24”
“Harper Adams University has pledged to be Net Zero by 2030 for emissions, predominantly related to gas consumption, electricity usage and fuel for university managed vehicles”
“Harper Adams University is seeking to develop a decarbonisation strategy which will allow its campus buildings and vehicle fleet to be operationally net zero carbon by 2030”
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Harper Adams University is a specialist agricultural and land-based higher education institution, based in Shropshire, England. It operates a 635-hectare working farm as a teaching resource and employs staff across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in agriculture, sustainable food systems, environmental management, and related disciplines.
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