University of Sunderland is a UK higher education institution, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, engineering, health, and social sciences.
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Sunderland has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 67.5% since 2005, backed by HESA statutory data and interim milestones to 2030. Scope 3 remains unverified and unquantified; supply chain engagement is nascent, phased in only from September 2025. No SBTi validation weakens credibility of net-zero claims.
University of Sunderland scores 54/100 (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 Sunderland joint 64th of 847 companies scored, and joint 11th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where University of Sunderland sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Sunderland is tied =11th of 67, with 4 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No formally verified Scope 3 total published.
No TNFD-aligned disclosure.
The full reasoning is in the ten questions below.
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 Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 5/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Sunderland.
Aberystwyth has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 50% from 2005 baseline and publishes statutory HESA data annually, backed by £10m renewable investment.
See the breakdown →DMU has cut operational carbon 62% since 2005 via efficiency gains, but supply chain emissions are rising 40% above baseline.
See the breakdown →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.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 10 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale10 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 4,250.9 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007159”
“by 2023/24 we've reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 67% compared to 2005/6”
“Scope 3 emissions from our supply chain are estimated to be four times greater than the emissions from our built estate”
“a 20% reduction in the University's carbon emissions over the last 12 months”
“As of December 2024, we have nine solar arrays capable of generating 870,744 kWh per year”
“Obtaining independent, external verification of the University's biodiversity contribution (see Baseline report)”
“the University has undergone an audit to prove that its environmental risks are well managed”
“Gary Stubbs of the University of Sunderland were crowned Staff Sustainability Champion”
“Environmental information for UK higher education providers is collected as part of the Estates management record”
“recognised as a finalist in the 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland due to its sustainability action”
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University of Sunderland is a UK higher education institution, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, engineering, health, and social sciences. A mid-sized urban campus university, it operates across two main sites in Sunderland and London.
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