University of York sustainability score: 49/100
Better than 23% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of York is a public research and teaching institution in North Yorkshire, England. It serves students across a 117-hectare campus.
More about University of York
As a higher education establishment, it operates lecture halls, research facilities, residential accommodation, and support services.
Head office United KingdomStaff 4,925 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £533M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
York publishes mandatory carbon data and holds green certifications, but absolute emissions remain nearly flat since 2005 despite two decades of climate action. Scope 3 is rising. The geothermal project is funded and real, but won't deliver energy until 2027. Electricity is still mostly fossil gas via CHP.
University of York scores 49/100 (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 York joint 179th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 45th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of York doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 6/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Emissions Trajectory (3/10, 4/10).
Where University of York 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.
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow a year-on-year fall in its total 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 operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain5/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling4/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- 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 targets4/10Its 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 University of York'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 York's score based on?
14 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
64% of them were published by University of York itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 21,240.2 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007167”
“Our scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions generated from heat and electricity in 2022-23 was: 23,938 tonnes.”
“2023/24 supply chain emissions data will not be available until late 2024.”
“A £50m investment has already been committed, supported by a £35m grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.”
“In partnership with NETPositive Futures, we've launched a free, user-friendly tool that helps our suppliers create their own customised Sustainability Action Plan.”
“The University has maintained its Green Flag status from 2013 to 2026.”
“This last year, 58% of main waste at the University was recycled, and we aim to increase recycling rates to 80% by 2030.”
“The project aims to cut our fossil fuel consumption by 78% as part of our Sustainability Plan 2030 targets.”
“The project has already secured £35 million funding for this stage from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.”
“The Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) provides strategic leadership for the implementation and delivery of the University Sustainability Plan.”
“The system has successfully achieved certification to the ISO14001 standard for our campus operations.”
“We're ranked 15th in the UK and 39th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings.”
“Set up in April 2023, YorkCliConnect is an official YESI network... to support and strengthen the local community that understands, communicates and takes action on the Climate and Nature Emergencies.”
“The rankings coincide with the University publishing its Sustainability Plan annual report 2024-25.”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does University of York compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of York sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of York is tied =45th of 67, with 7 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of York.
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.
See the breakdown →Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest.
See the breakdown →Manchester has science-aligned 2038 zero-carbon targets and genuine third-party verified emissions data, but is materially off-trajectory: Scope 1+2 fell only 4% in 2023 versus the required 13% annual cut, and total Scope 3 emissions rose 18% since 2018.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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