The UK recorded its highest temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius in the summers of 2022 and 2023, making 2023 the warmest year on record. And climate scientists predict that by the end of the century, three billion people worldwide will be displaced by the effects of global warming.
Universities Embracing a Sustainable Future
The article ‘Integrating sustainability into university culture’ from the 2024 QS Yearbook explains how universities and business schools worldwide are stepping up with innovative initiatives to move towards a more sustainable future. In 2019, over 7,000 educational institutions pledged to address the climate crisis by committing to going carbon neutral by 2030 or 2050 at the latest.
Strathmore University in Kenya, runs on clean energy and has its own solar power system. University of California and the London School of Economics have already achieved carbon neutrality. University of Strathclyde in Scotland has its first carbon-neutral building, powered by a renewable energy network and Heriot-Watt University is developing a Net Zero Community Hub to educate and engage communities in tackling the challenge of reaching Net Zero emissions.
University Partnerships Play a Crucial Role
Swansea University’s SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre partners with Tata Steel to develop solar-powered Active Buildings. Similarly, Sussex Business School collaborates with Seoul National University to promote sustainability in Industry 5.0 (the next phase of industrial development, advanced automation, AI, and sustainability).
The POLIMI Graduate School of Management in Milan has partnered with the Green Future Project to finance sustainable projects. Their aim is to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting initiatives like regenerating a mangrove forest in Madagascar, producing clean energy in India, and protect forests in Ecuador.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
At Hunterlodge, we are dedicated to creating a more sustainable business model that respects the limits of the planet’s environment, resources, and biodiversity.
Since 2020 we have been carbon negative, offsetting our CO2 emissions through the Woodland Trust and the Climate Positive initiatives. We recorded a 33% reduction of waste and 33% of our electricity is now self-generated by solar power panels. Plus each year we plant 45 trees and 5 hedge rows in collaboration with Wood Oaks Farm.

Saving the best for last, we had the opportunity to collaborate on several sustainable projects with our clients. It’s always rewarding to see our work and our brand purpose of ‘helping to make the world a better place’ come together. For University of Reading we delivered a campaign all around “Show Your Stripes“, which utilised the famous climate stripes developed by Ed Hawkins.

The stripes illustrate each country and show the increase in temperatures over the past century. Worryingly, in 2022, it was the first year that every country’s stripe on the “Show Your Stripes” visualisation moved up by at least one colour, indicating an increase in worldwide average temperatures.
The Imperative for Corporate Climate Action is Clear
UK businesses are responsible for 85% of total emissions, emphasising the importance of corporate action in combating climate change. Implementing Climate Action, distinguishes businesses but also attracts customers and top talent, with 81% of consumers preferring environmentally proactive companies.
Government contracts now require a Carbon Reduction Plan, and large organisations demand suppliers to measure and reduce their environmental impact. Just as businesses are expected to take action, universities, especially those teaching sustainability, must prioritise environmental responsibility. While achieving near-zero emissions may take decades, immediate action through carbon offsetting is essential to prevent irreversible climate damage. Additionally, Carbon offsetting projects offer environmental benefits and social ones, making it a crucial step in promoting both the environmental and social aspects of ESG.
‘In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.’
— Baba Dioum, Senegalese forestry engineer
Contact us today to discover how we can support your sustainable projects: kim.mclellan@hunterlodge.co.uk