Sustainability

We all have an opportunity to let sustainability guide our actions and join a shared mission to become the world's most sustainable university.

'Sustainability Institute of the Year' at the Green Gown Awards Australasia 2021, presented by Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability.

Locally and globally, communities are facing urgent and unprecedented challenges and opportunities to deliver a sustainable future for our planet.

Our commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability arises from the voices of our island's communities. They call for the University of Tasmania to play a leadership role in the creation of innovative sustainable outcomes that then become relevant to the rest of the world.

Sustainability is embedded across all aspects of our activity — learning and teaching, research, community engagement and operations. Find out how you can allow sustainability to guide your actions and what role you can play in our shared mission.

Our commitment to sustainability

The University's leadership and commitment to sustainability is embedded in our values, vision and mission statements, together with our strategic plan.

Building on these guiding statements, our sustainability framework provides the foundation for the University's holistic approach to sustainability.

We regularly ask our students and staff about their expectations and assessment of our performance through a biennial survey.

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Sharing our sustainability journey

#1 in Australia in climate action

The University of Tasmania is the leading university globally on SDG 13: Climate Action, and achieved #2 ranking for performance overall in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rankings.

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Gold STARS-rated university

The University of Tasmania was the first STARS accredited institution in Australasia, achieving a Silver rating in 2020 and a Gold rating in 2022. Over 1,000 universities worldwide use the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System.

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Green gowns and other awards

The University of Tasmania's commitment to sustainability has been recognised by numerous awards including International Green Gown Awards for community engagement, student engagement, and leadership.

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Leading the way for a sustainable future

The University of Tasmania has ranked #1 on climate action for universities internationally.

For the third year running, we are officially the tertiary sector's world-leader in taking climate action, with the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings rating us number one in climate action globally for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

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It’s in our nature

Explore a collection of stories that celebrate and highlight the unique work being undertaken by our institution, and the people within it, to deliver a more fair, equitable and sustainable society.

Explore our stories

Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognise that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. In 2019, we signed the University Commitment which recognises the significant scope of work needed to achieve the SDGs and the important role university communities play in reaching these goals. We are committed to sustainability for ourselves, our surrounding communities, and the world.

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Get in touch

Do you have a general query or feedback about sustainability at the University of Tasmania? We would love to hear from you. If you would like to know more about a specific initiative or opportunity, get in touch with the Sustainability Team.

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