University of Edinburgh is Scotland's largest research university, headquartered in Edinburgh.
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Edinburgh has cut operational carbon intensity 35% over a decade and acquired 5,035 hectares for habitat restoration, but leaves Scope 3 emissions unquantified—likely exceeding 300,000 tCO₂e when included. Energy remains 85% fossil-dependent. The institution publishes strong governance data but lacks third-party verification on core climate figures.
University of Edinburgh 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 University of Edinburgh joint 50th of 847 companies scored, and joint 8th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where University of Edinburgh sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Edinburgh is tied =8th of 67, with 2 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No published audited Scope 3 total.
No RE100 membership or large-scale power purchase agreement documented.
University stated March 2026 it is 'off track on some targets'; multi-year absolute data incomplete.
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 Energy Source (4/10, 4/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Edinburgh.
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 15 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale15 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 61,200.1 tCO2e; carbon intensity 0.0658 tCO2e/m²; 2023/24 EMR”
“Scope 1 describes direct emissions from University activities on campus, such as gas heating”
“Products and services that we purchase account for over half of the University's emissions”
“extension of emissions measurement in UK universities to include Scope 3 emissions generally represents a very large (>400%) increase”
“We will return our carbon emissions to 2007/08 baseline year levels by 2025 (achieved)”
“We have made a lot of good progress, but we are also off track on some of our targets”
“Over £30m has been invested in low carbon technology on campus”
“The solar farm will provide 15 per cent of the Easter Bush site's electricity consumption”
“By October 2025 the programme has secured 5035ha of habitat restoration in Scotland through peatland restoration and woodland creation”
“NatureScot Peatland ACTION funding will be used to build on baseline monitoring funded by the University”
“The Strategy sets out how University will achieve its vision to becoming a zero waste University by embedding Circular Economy thinking”
“We will regenerate ecological systems across a land footprint at least five times the size of our campuses by 2040”
“Since it became the first university to sign up to the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment in 2013”
“Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31 July 2024 — University of Edinburgh”
“In 2021, the University completed full divestment from fossil fuels, becoming the largest university endowment in the UK to be free of direct fossil fuel investment”
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University of Edinburgh is Scotland's largest research university, headquartered in Edinburgh. A research-intensive institution. Operates significant estate and research facilities including the Roslin Institute. Major research and teaching commitments across sciences, medicine, humanities, and professional disciplines.
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