University of Cumbria is a UK higher education institution with campuses in Ambleside, Carlisle, and London.
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Limited evidence. Published with 2 independent parties, below our full-confidence threshold of 3. Every source cited on this page passed the same quality checks as any other score: all live, none from data aggregators. There is simply less of it.
University of Cumbria has achieved significant operational emissions reductions (75% from 2005 baseline) but relies entirely on grid electricity with zero renewable energy procurement. Supply chain emissions are unmeasured, waste recycling underperforms stated targets, and forward carbon targets expired in 2020 with no successor commitment published.
University of Cumbria scores 42/100 (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 University of Cumbria joint 317th of 847 companies scored, and 60th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where University of Cumbria sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Cumbria sits 60th of 67.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No renewable energy strategy published.
No published Scope 3 total found in university's own reporting.
No current net zero target, SBTi commitment, or post-2020 carbon reduction target found in public documents.
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 Emissions Trajectory (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (1/10, 2/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Cumbria.
Leeds Arts University operates a genuinely small carbon footprint (579 tCO₂e) with verified seven-year reductions of 35%.
See the breakdown →University of Chester has documented carbon operations via statutory HESA reporting but lacks external verification and Scope 3 disclosure.
See the breakdown →Rose Bruford College has reduced operational emissions 57.6% since 2005 and tracks carbon performance via statutory HESA data, but purchases no renewable energy, has not quantified Scope 3 emissions, and lacks science-aligned net-zero targets.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 11 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (Kg CO2e), 2023/24 — University of Cumbria: 2,502,700 kg CO2e”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“Estates and Property Team will collect and monitor a range of environmental performance data including: Energy consumption, Water use, Waste generation, Travel activity”
“Scope 3 carbon emissions from business travel; Scope 3 carbon emissions from staff commuting; Scope 3 carbon emissions from supply chain”
“The data presented relates to the academic years 2015/16 to 2023/24”
“EcoCampus is an Environmental Management System (EMS) and award scheme targeted towards the higher education sector”
“Partnering with engineering firm AECOM, the biodiversity charity The Lifescape Project (LP), and the University of Cumbria (UoC), they launched the Natural Capital Laboratory (NCL) as a five-year pilot”
“Explore and study a diverse environment with unique habitats, wildlife, and flora”
“aligning with our strategies, including those related to planned academic developments and sustainability, the University is finalising an updated Estates Strategy in 2024/25”
“We are committed to tackling the biggest challenge of our time, the climate emergency”
“The National School of Forestry was set up here in the 1960s and has a long history of educating forest managers”
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University of Cumbria is a UK higher education institution with campuses in Ambleside, Carlisle, and London. It serves students and generated £78.3m revenue in 2023/24. The university emphasises environmental science, forestry, and conservation research alongside mainstream academic programmes.
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