University of Aberdeen sustainability score: 50/100
Better than 35% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Aberdeen is a research-led institution in northeast Scotland. One of the UK's older universities, it operates multiple campuses in Aberdeen, offering undergraduate and postgraduate education across sciences, engineering, medicine, law, and humanities.
Founded 1495Head office GBStaff 2,830 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £261M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
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. Targets are self-set, not SBTi-validated. Scope 3 tracking exists but remains incomplete.
University of Aberdeen scores 50/100 (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 October 2026.
That places University of Aberdeen joint 155th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 38th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Aberdeen doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (2/10, 3/10).
Where University of Aberdeen 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
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Its effect on natureAssess its effect on nature and publish a basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles wasteShow active waste reduction, reuse or repair.
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 chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is2/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste3/10No active waste reduction, reuse or repair shown.
- Its effect on water4/10No 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 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 University of Aberdeen's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is University of Aberdeen's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by University of Aberdeen itself; the rest come from independent sources.
6 of 12 sources are independent of the company.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 12,584.2 tCO₂e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007783”
“Scope 1 accounts for 40.5% of the emissions baseline, Scope 2 for 34.4%, and Scope 3 for 25.1%”
“All of our emissions reporting is consistent with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocols and the Scottish Government's Public Bodies Climate Change Duty”
“The sector can use the Domestic and International Student Travel Emissions Calculator Tool developed by the University of Aberdeen”
“carbon footprint reduced by 49.3% between 2015/16 and 2023/24”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for 2023/24”
“the University developed a climate adaptation strategy in 2025, informed by a local risk assessment and initial action plan”
“We aim to reduce the volume of waste we produce and to encourage reuse and recycling”
“Reduce water consumption year-on-year. Improve leak identification through effective water metering.”
“The move came after a nine year campaign by Aberdeen students involved with People & Planet”
“following the University of Aberdeen's similar commitment in 2021”
“project lead Professor Tavis Potts, co-coordinator of the University of Aberdeen's Just Transition Lab”
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How does University of Aberdeen compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Aberdeen sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Aberdeen is tied =38th of 67, with 6 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Aberdeen.
Glasgow Caledonian University reports comprehensive Scope 1+2 emissions data with a verified 27.7% reduction since 2005, but remains entirely gas-powered with zero renewable energy.
See the breakdown →CCCU has cut operational emissions 51% since 2005 and ranks gold-tier for energy efficiency among UK universities.
See the breakdown →Teesside University has cut operational emissions 42% since 2005 and maintains zero waste to landfill, backed by statutory HESA reporting.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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