University of Cumbria sustainability score: 42/100
Better than 11% of Higher Education / Universities
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Limited independent evidence: only two independent sources cover this company. The score may change as more evidence appears.
University of Cumbria is a UK higher education institution with campuses in Ambleside, Carlisle, and London. It serves students and generated £78.3m revenue in 2023/24.
More about University of Cumbria
The university emphasises environmental science, forestry, and conservation research alongside mainstream academic programmes.
Head office GBStaff 880 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £78.3M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
University of Cumbria has achieved significant operational emissions reductions (75% from 2005 baseline) but relies entirely on grid electricity with zero renewable energy procurement. Supply chain emissions are unmeasured, waste recycling underperforms stated targets, and forward carbon targets expired in 2020 with no successor commitment published.
University of Cumbria scores 42/100 (Below expectations) 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 University of Cumbria joint 362nd of 1,023 companies scored, and 60th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Cumbria doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Emissions Trajectory (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain (1/10, 2/10).
Where University of Cumbria 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.
- Emissions from its supply chainAssess where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Its climate targetsSet specific targets with dates.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain2/10No 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 is1/10No 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 waste3/10No active waste reduction, reuse or repair shown.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets2/10No specific targets with dates.
- How openly it reports4/10No 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 University of Cumbria'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 Cumbria's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
45% of them were published by University of Cumbria itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (Kg CO2e), 2023/24 — University of Cumbria: 2,502,700 kg CO2e”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“Estates and Property Team will collect and monitor a range of environmental performance data including: Energy consumption, Water use, Waste generation, Travel activity”
“Scope 3 carbon emissions from business travel; Scope 3 carbon emissions from staff commuting; Scope 3 carbon emissions from supply chain”
“The data presented relates to the academic years 2015/16 to 2023/24”
“EcoCampus is an Environmental Management System (EMS) and award scheme targeted towards the higher education sector”
“Partnering with engineering firm AECOM, the biodiversity charity The Lifescape Project (LP), and the University of Cumbria (UoC), they launched the Natural Capital Laboratory (NCL) as a five-year pilot”
“Explore and study a diverse environment with unique habitats, wildlife, and flora”
“aligning with our strategies, including those related to planned academic developments and sustainability, the University is finalising an updated Estates Strategy in 2024/25”
“We are committed to tackling the biggest challenge of our time, the climate emergency”
“The National School of Forestry was set up here in the 1960s and has a long history of educating forest managers”
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How does University of Cumbria compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Cumbria sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Cumbria sits 60th of 67.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Cumbria.
Leeds Arts University operates a genuinely small carbon footprint (579 tCO₂e) with verified seven-year reductions of 35%.
See the breakdown →University of Chester has documented carbon operations via statutory HESA reporting but lacks external verification and Scope 3 disclosure.
See the breakdown →Rose Bruford College has reduced operational emissions 57.6% since 2005 and tracks carbon performance via statutory HESA data, but purchases no renewable energy, has not quantified Scope 3 emissions, and lacks science-aligned net-zero targets.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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