Birkbeck, University of London sustainability score: 49/100
Better than 23% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research and teaching institution, specialising in evening and part-time higher education. Based in central London, it operates a compact 47,340 m² estate and serves primarily working adults.
More about Birkbeck, University of London
The university is a constituent college of the University of London.
Head office GBStaff 1,060 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £102M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Birkbeck has achieved a 56% absolute emissions reduction since 2005 and holds ISO 14001 certification with public annual reporting. Major gaps: Scope 3 supply chain footprint is tracked internally but not publicly disclosed; renewable energy procurement is near-zero; and interim net-zero milestones lack external validation.
Birkbeck, University of London scores 49/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified September 2026.
That places Birkbeck, University of London joint 179th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 45th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Birkbeck, University of London doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (9/10, 7/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Energy Source (3/10, 3/10).
Where Birkbeck, University of London lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Emissions from its supply chainAssess where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain3/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets4/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports5/10No dedicated sustainability role, board oversight or public report.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Birkbeck, University of London's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Birkbeck, University of London's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by Birkbeck, University of London itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 1922.8 tCO₂e (2023/24, UKPRN 10007760)”
“We are assessing our scope 1 and 2 emissions against a 2005-06 baseline of 4,370 tCO2e”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“There are 15 categories in Scope 3, and Birkbeck currently reports emissions under 8 of these”
“Renewable energy PV proposals as part of the Heat Decarbonisation Plan”
“Birkbeck has held a joint ISO14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) certification with SOAS and LSHTM since 2016”
“reduce use of beef by 50% by January 2027 and a further 20% by January 2028”
“TPS was appointed by Birkbeck College to undertake a Scope 3 carbon emissions assessment”
“The SBTi Target Dashboard lists companies with validated targets — Birkbeck is not listed”
“Birkbeck is the first higher education institution in the UK — and to our knowledge, the world — to take this step”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does Birkbeck, University of London compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Birkbeck, University of London sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Birkbeck, University of London is tied =45th of 67, with 7 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Birkbeck, University of London.
Aberdeen has cut operational emissions 52.5% since 2005 and publishes verified data annually, but renewable energy procurement remains near-zero at 0%, and biodiversity/waste metrics lack measurable outcomes.
See the breakdown →Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest.
See the breakdown →Manchester has science-aligned 2038 zero-carbon targets and genuine third-party verified emissions data, but is materially off-trajectory: Scope 1+2 fell only 4% in 2023 versus the required 13% annual cut, and total Scope 3 emissions rose 18% since 2018.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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