Strategy Refresh Project
Environmental Sustainability Strategy Refresh
Our sustainability strategy, The Way to Sustainable, was launched in 2022, and we believe it’s time for a refresh. We want to set more ambitious and measurable goals that address all aspects of environmental sustainability while incorporating insights from across the University—spanning education, research, and operations.
Professor Stephanie Panichelli-Batalla
Academic Director for Sustainability
“As we look to the future, a refreshed sustainability strategy is essential to address emerging challenges and opportunities. Engaging our university community is crucial—each voice enriches our approach, helping us build a more inclusive, impactful path to truly advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Parvez Islam
Director of Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure
“With our focus on sustainability now firmly established as the 5th strategic goal of the University, now is the perfect opportunity to revisit our sustainability strategy and take stock of where we stand and how we move forward with greater drive and ambition. The key to this is taking on board feedback from our valued communities including staff and students to help enhance our methodology in order to be at the forefront of sustainability with our research, education and campus operations.”
Our Progress
We have made some progress since November 2024, we went through the consultation process and the data analysis:
Who We Consulted
As part of the Sustainability Strategy refresh, we engaged with staff and students across the University through a range of consultation activities. We used both quantitative and qualitative methods to ensure a broad and inclusive approach. These included:
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A University-wide student survey
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A series of listening sessions, including workshops and listening rooms involving academic staff from departments across the University, professional services staff, students, and student societies
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Consultations with senior leaders
What We Heard – and What We’re Already Doing
Throughout the consultation process, we received valuable feedback and questions from our University community. Many of the ideas shared are areas where work is already underway, or where projects are already in place.
To help bridge that gap, we’ve created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section below—so you can find answers to some of the most common queries, such as 'Why don’t we have solar panels?', you’ll find the full answer under the Energy section. (Spoiler: we do!).
Please feel free to explore the section below to learn more about ongoing initiatives and future plans.
Q: Why don’t we put solar panels on roofs?
A: We already have solar panels on most buildings across campus. Since 2010, all new builds have included solar panel installations. We’re currently working to utilise the remaining suitable roof space before exploring options for ground-mounted solar arrays. Learn more about solar panels on campus:
Solar Panels - University of Warwick
Q: Can we have more communications around energy, including energy-saving tips?
A:We're currently developing a series of energy-saving tips that will be displayed on digital screens across campus. These will offer clear, simple steps to help reduce energy usage and prevent waste. Find out more about our energy strategy:
Way to Sustainable: Our current strategy
Read our current strategy here, or check out our strategy on a page below.
How You Can Take Part
We host listening rooms for smaller groups, such as societies and departments. Contact sustainability@warwick.ac.uk to learn more.
For any environmental sustainability related questions please contact sustainability@warwick.ac.uk.