2024 Sustainability Report
A message from the Vice-Chancellor
I am pleased to confirm that the University of Melbourne reaffirms its support to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption. This is our Communication on Engagement with the United Nations Global Compact. We welcome feedback on its contents. In this Communication of Engagement, we describe the actions that our organisation has taken to support the UN Global Compact and its Principles as suggested for an organisation like ours. We also commit to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.
Report overview
Our society is transitioning towards a sustainable future, and the University of Melbourne is aiming to accelerate that transition. As a globally connected research and teaching institution, we contribute to the growth of sustainability knowledge and practice, foster and engage in public debate, and lead by example through our campus operations and stewardship of campus landscapes.
This is the University’s third report under Sustainability Plan 2030 (SP2030). SP2030 presents our vision for a sustainable University of Melbourne. This report also provides information on the University’s progress towards broader commitments we have made as signatories of national and global sustainability and climate initiatives, including:
United Nations Global Compact
See Sustainability Governance and Community of Sustainability Learners and Practitioners for information on how we are embedding sustainability in our strategy, culture and day-to-day operations.
Nature Positive Universities Alliance
See Healthy Ecosystems for information on how we are reducing our impacts on nature in line with our Nature Positive Pledge.
Race to Zero initiative
See Climate Leadership for details of our progress towards our target of Climate Active carbon neutral certification by 2025.
United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment
See our Sustainability Financing Framework and Responsible Investments for information on our efforts to manage our investments responsibly.
Our sustainability strategy
The University’s Sustainability Charter affirms that global values and actions must be ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable, with success in one area not coming at the expense of others. The University's SP2030 reflects our ambition to be leaders for a global sustainable future and a commitment to our people, partners and place in the world. It is aligned to the goals of our 2030 institutional strategy Advancing Melbourne and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. SP2030 is a road map for delivering on the commitments of our Sustainability Charter and takes a strategic approach, with three domains for action:
- Mobilising knowledge for action: To catalyse action and solutions, we must inspire our students and staff to develop deep disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability. We will collaborate with communities, government, industry and institutional partners to advance real-world solutions and reciprocal learning.
- Walking the talk in our operations: We must model the commitment and action necessary to effect meaningful change by 2030 in the operations and development of our institution, minimising harm and promoting the health of the ecosystems the University is part of.
- Amplifying action through campus and communities: We will integrate these knowledge mobilisation and operational domains in ways that amplify their contribution to sustainability.
SP2030 sits alongside a suite of institutional strategies designed to enhance the University’s positive impacts and contribution to society, including social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability:
Sustainability Governance
The University's Sustainability governance model was revised in 2024. The updated model facilitates high-level informed oversight by incorporating the relevant portfolio leaders. Under the new governance structure, the Vice Chancellor's Advisory Group assumes a pivotal role, providing high-level governance and strategic counsel to the Vice Chancellor regarding the progress and implementation of SP2030 targets.
Workstream leadership groups, encompassing the three domains outlined in SP2030, are accountable for ensuring the successful delivery of the targets, exercising decision-making authority and allocating resources to achieve the established objectives. These workstream groups are supported by sub-groups and communities of practice, which contribute subject matter expertise.
This contrasts with the previous model, where sustainability governance resided with the Chief Operating Officer, who held direct accountability for only half of the SP2030 targets. The revised model ensures representation from all portfolios responsible for target attainment in the decision-making process.
The new governance model will be operationalised in 2025.
Tracking progress against our sustainability targets
In this report, we have assessed our progress against each of the 28 targets in SP2030. Under each priority across the report, the status of each target is included along with a comment on progress in 2024. Assessments of target status are based on the following framework:
 |  |  |  |
On track | In progress | Needs attention | Not yet started |
The University has a coordinated plan to address the target; implementation is underway, and data demonstrates we are on track to meet the target by the due date | The University is working to coordinate plans to address the target; some implementation is underway, and data demonstrates some progress has been made towards achieving the target, however we are not yet on track to achieve the target by the due date | There is insufficient evidence of planning, implementation or data to track progress towards achieving the target by the due date | No action has been taken because the target is dependent on achievement of other target(s) in SP2030 |
| SP2030 priority area | Target | Status |
|---|---|---|
Climate leadership | The University is certified carbon neutral by 2025 |
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The University has achieved climate positive status by 2030 |
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Campuses as living laboratories | The University has curated living labs covering the priority areas of this Plan |
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Community of sustainability learners and practitioners | The University’s Academic Divisions and portfolios support and learn from each other to embed sustainability in practice and in learning – formal, non-formal and informal |
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The University community shows increased uptake of positive sustainability skills, knowledge and behaviours through non-formal and informal learning |
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The University offers a suite of student-centred, formal and non-formal applied sustainability learning opportunities, informed by inter and trans-disciplinary approaches |
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Academic and professional staff have increased their participation in and contribution to formal and non-formal learning to develop their general and role-specific sustainability skills |
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The University has increased its engagement with alumni regarding sustainability |
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Graduates for a sustainable future | Sustainability is integrated into curriculum to an extent that conscientiously extends, beyond a base threshold, each discipline’s (and associated professions/industries’) knowledge of the helpful and harmful impacts it has for the environmental and human systems we depend on |
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Graduates have increased capabilities to shape, lead and succeed in the careers, communities and industries of sustainable societies (year on year). |
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Discovery | Sustainability research is integrated with campus operations and planning, to be an international exemplar of a sustainable community |
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The highest quality research is conducted that contributes to knowledge, action, and impact across the disciplinary and interdisciplinary dimensions of sustainability. |
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Researchers make considered decisions on the sustainability impact of their research practices and activities |
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Indigenous knowledges | The University has an increased understanding of sustainability from an Indigenous perspective through co-created or Indigenous-led reciprocal learning |
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Engagement and partnerships | The University’s community partnerships demonstrate localised and co-created approaches to sustainability. |
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The University has led or influenced discussions with precinct partners to further precinct-specific approaches to sustainability |
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The University is playing a leading and convening role on sustainability challenges and opportunities internationally, with particular focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Asia and the Pacific |
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Climate resilience | The University reaches and maintains a ‘high’ climate change preparedness level |
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Healthy ecosystems | Each campus achieves no net loss of biodiversity relative to defined baseline years by 2025 |
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Each campus achieves an increase of biodiversity relative to defined baseline years by 2030 |
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Healthy water cycles | The University has reduced total water consumption by 10% relative to a 2019 baseline |
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The University has significantly increased the proportion of water consumption from non-potable sources compared to a 2019 baseline |
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Just and circular economy | The University has reduced waste to landfill to 10kg per person |
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The University has reduced the flow and improved the circularity of materials passing through the University |
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The University has principles for ethical and sustainable consumption and service provision embedded into operations and procurement practices |
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The University tracks spend with social and Indigenous suppliers, setting targets from 2024 |
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Responsible investment | The University’s investment portfolio will be included in our commitment to be climate positive by 2030 |
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Enhanced transparent reporting of the University’s investment portfolio |
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Plans for 2025
Here’s how we plan to progress each target in SP2030 in 2025:
| SP2030 priority area | Plans for 2025 |
|---|---|
| Climate leadership |
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| Campuses as living laboratories |
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| Community of sustainability learners and practitioners |
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| Graduates for a sustainable future |
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| Discovery |
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| Indigenous knowledges |
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| Engagement and partnerships |
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| Climate resilience |
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| Healthy ecosystems |
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| Healthy water cycles |
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| Just and circular economy |
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| Responsible investment |
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Our sustainability strategy
At the University of Melbourne, our efforts in sustainability are guided by Sustainability Plan 2030 - a roadmap for sustainable delivery of our institutional strategy Advancing Melbourne.
Read more about how we are advancing sustainability at the University:
