University of Warwick sustainability score: 52/100
Better than 56% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
The University of Warwick is a research-intensive institution in the UK's Russell Group, near Coventry. It conducts teaching and research across sciences, engineering, social sciences, and the arts.
More about University of Warwick
As a higher education provider, it faces environmental impacts from buildings, procurement, student and staff travel, and capital projects.
Head office GBStaff 7,415 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £860M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Warwick has met interim carbon targets through operational gas phase-out and renewable electricity, but Scope 3 emissions—three-quarters of its footprint—lack annual disclosure and reduction milestones. Heat decarbonisation remains incomplete; banking relationships contradict stated fossil fuel divestment. Governance and reporting are solid; execution across supply chain is opaque.
University of Warwick scores 52/100 (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 University of Warwick joint 109th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 26th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Warwick doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Transparency & Accountability (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Energy Source (5/10, 5/10).
Where University of Warwick 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.
- How clean its energy isShow at least half its energy is renewable, with a transition plan.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
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 falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is5/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- 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 targets6/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports7/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies7/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
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 Warwick'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 Warwick's score based on?
16 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
69% of them were published by University of Warwick itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions: 34,196.6 tCO2e (HESA Table-3, UKPRN 10007163, 2023/24)”
“In 23/24 our Scope 1 emissions were 24,273 tCO2e, an 18.9% reduction compared to the previous year”
“A pie chart showing the distribution of CO2 emissions totalling 198,925 tCO2e”
“scope 3 impacts make up three-quarters of the university's overall carbon impact, when scopes 1 and 2 are taken into account”
“We have reduced our Scope 1 carbon emissions by 21.7%, successfully achieving our interim target of a 20% reduction by 2025”
“We have over 5,500 solar panels on rooftops around campus that, at peak output, can generate around 1MW of electricity”
“The current installation is expected to generate 511.32MWh per year and save 99.62 tonnes of carbon”
“In 2025, we signed the Nature Positive Universities Pledge further strengthening our commitment to reversing nature loss”
“allocate a large proportion of our land holding (over 120 acres) on the main campus to re-wilding and parkland”
“The University is committed to achieving a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain for all future projects on campus”
“In 2023/24, the project diverted 8.1 tonnes from general waste and avoided approximately 15,000 kgCO2e”
“In 2022/23 16,956m3 of water was saved due to leaks being stopped more quickly as a result of improved monitoring”
“Our 2023–2024 SDG Report showcases how Warwick is delivering impact locally, nationally, and globally”
“4 Carbon Emissions 24 [section in the 2024/25 Annual Review and Financial Statements]”
“The university does not, technically, invest in the fossil fuel sector... Indirect fossil fuel finance is not the only way in which the University of Warwick misuses its resources”
“The University will never knowingly invest in companies involved in fossil fuel extraction and production”
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How does University of Warwick compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Warwick sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Warwick is tied =26th of 67, with 4 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Warwick.
Loughborough has published specific decarbonisation targets and joined the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, but lacks independent validation of climate goals and Scope 3 quantification.
See the breakdown →Cardiff Met has reduced Scope 1+2 emissions 60% since 2005 and holds ISO 14001 certification, but supply chain mapping remains incomplete and recycling lags sector targets at 49%.
See the breakdown →Anglia Ruskin has achieved measurable carbon reductions (40% absolute Scope 1+2 vs 2005) and secured zero-carbon electricity via power purchase agreement.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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