Liverpool John Moores University sustainability score: 57/100
Better than 97% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Liverpool John Moores University is a post-1992 research and teaching institution in northwest England. It operates an urban multi-campus estate in Liverpool and is classified within the UK higher education sector.
More about Liverpool John Moores University
LJMU participates in statutory environmental reporting via HESA and holds ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certifications.
Head office GBStaff 2,690 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £271M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
LJMU has achieved genuine absolute emissions cuts (65.5% since 2005) backed by statutory HESA data and ISO 14001 verification. Critical gaps: Scope 3 — roughly 90% of footprint — lacks aggregate quantification and net-zero commitment. Green tariff electricity is additionality-weak. Biodiversity targets are newly set with no verified outcomes.
Liverpool John Moores University scores 57/100 (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 Liverpool John Moores University joint 34th of 1,023 companies scored, and 3rd of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Liverpool John Moores University doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Controversies & Red Flags (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain (4/10, 5/10).
Where Liverpool John Moores 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
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- Emissions from its supply chainMeasure most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions.
- Its climate targetsMake its targets science-based, or commit to the Science Based Targets initiative.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- Emissions from its supply chain5/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No 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 nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste6/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- Its effect on water6/10No water stewardship programme or verified fall in water use.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports7/10No 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 Liverpool John Moores University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Liverpool John Moores University's score based on?
8 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by Liverpool John Moores University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“5,204.5 tCO₂e total Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, 2023/24, UKPRN 10003957”
“Reduce CO2e emissions from procurement by 5% by the end of the academic year 2028/2029.”
“The Platinum level is fully aligned with ISO 14001, offering a direct route to internationally recognized environmental certification.”
“LJMU has also earned full EcoCampus Platinum status and ISO50001 Energy Management certification”
“Increasing species richness across our estate by 10% against a 2025 baseline”
“Of the 136 HE providers who submitted data for the past two years, 96 (71%) saw a decrease in emissions.”
“Liverpool John Moores University…divested from fossil fuels by incorporating industry exclusions into their Ethical Investment Policies.”
“LJMU is in the top third of universities in the People and Planet League and is a member of Universities Climate Network.”
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How does Liverpool John Moores University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Liverpool John Moores University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Liverpool John Moores University sits 3rd of 67.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 2 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Liverpool John Moores University.
Manchester Met has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 65% since 2005 and publishes audited sustainability data annually.
See the breakdown →Lancaster has cut operational emissions 44% since 2005 and installed significant renewable capacity, but recycling collapsed to 28% from 72%, masking weak resource management.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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