Cardiff University sustainability score: 53/100
Better than 64% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Cardiff University is a research-intensive institution in Wales, UK. The university operates a substantial estate across central Cardiff and conducts significant laboratory-based research, placing it mid-tier by UK research output and carbon footprint among Russell Group peers.
Head office GBStaff 6,390 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £649M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Cardiff University has established competent operational carbon governance with ISO 14001 certification and a 25.8% absolute Scope 1+2 reduction since 2005. However, Scope 3 remains unquantified and untracked; supply chain emissions data is fragmentary and acknowledged as methodologically immature. Fossil fuel divestment is enshrined in policy, but the net-zero 2030 target lacks SBTi validation.
Cardiff University scores 53/100 (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 Cardiff University joint 86th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Cardiff University doing well, and where does it fall short?
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).
Where Cardiff University 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 chainMeasure most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles wasteReport measurable waste or recycling targets publicly.
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 chain4/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature5/10Its 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 water5/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
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 Cardiff University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Cardiff University's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
75% of them were published by Cardiff University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 23595.2 tCO2e, UKPRN 10007814, 2023/24”
“calculated our carbon emissions for the latest complete reporting year using two separate frameworks”
“independently audited and certified to the ISO 14001 international standard”
“changes will help the university save 1,363 t/CO2e each year, which is around 5% of our Scope 1 and 2”
“Cardiff University has secured £8.8m... to introduce low-carbon upgrades to its Cathays campus”
“ERBAP based on assessing and improving the five attributes... diversity, extent, condition, connectivity, and adaptability”
“Established eight Biodiversity Hubs across the University”
“priority areas of focus to reduce our environmental impact and carbon emissions”
“fully divested from fossil fuels – a year ahead of schedule”
“Cardiff University and Kings College London are among the universities which do include their commitment in ethical investment policy”
“ranked 3rd among higher education institutions in the UK for Life Below Water”
“ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard that sets out a framework for an effective environmental management system”
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How does Cardiff University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Cardiff University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Cardiff University is tied =16th of 67, with 9 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Cardiff University.
Strathclyde has cut absolute emissions 40% since 2018/19 and publishes credible HESA-verified data, but missed its own 70%-by-2025 interim target by half.
See the breakdown →Bristol has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 56% since 2005 and publishes verified data.
See the breakdown →Birmingham City University has documented operational carbon cuts of 59% since 2005, backed by statutory HESA data and ISO 14001 certification.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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