2030 Sustainability Strategy
Flinders University is committed to sustainability, inclusivity, and global responsibility, we will confront challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequalities and lead society towards a brighter future.
Our 2030 Sustainability Strategy is a 'living' document meant to guide and inform our work.
By integrating these pressing issues into our strategic agenda, conducting research, offering sustainability-focused and inclusive educational programs, implementing sustainable practices across all functions, and engaging with external networks, we will actively address societal needs and advance sustainability on a local, national, and global scale.
Principles
Our Strategy focuses on our strategic pillars, each with its own focus areas, objectives and actions:
Flinders University is the top performer for 'Energy and Climate’ in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.
We are the first institution in the world to earn a coveted Gold rating under the newly released version 3.0 of the international Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
Focus areas
Learning & Teaching
Review sustainability in the graduate outcomes, topics and courses across the University
Offer sustainability-focused undergraduate and graduate-level degree courses
Develop a sustainability teaching grant that targets interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability
Track the sustainability literacy of students during orientation and graduation
Track societal sustainability contributions of alumni
Identify sustainability topics formally to help students distinguish from other courses
Leverage existing teaching and research outputs to create interdisciplinary sustainability educational opportunities
Energy, Buildings & Construction
Maintain 100% renewal electricity in SA
Major projects minimum rating of 5 Star Green Star, Gold WELL and /or LEED Certification
No new natural gas from 2024
Embed sustainability through Design Guidelines and Standards
Aim to replace 80% of hydrofluorocarbons by 2030
Improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2030
Develop energy storage to support electrification
Develop energy rating system for building tune-ups and operations
Transport
Electrify small vehicle fleet by 2026 and participate in the EV Fleet Pledge Program
Electrify campus bus services by 2026
Enhance cycling and walking infrastructure for Bedford Park and Sturt campuses
Participate in Climate Action Barometer for International Education™
Reduce business-related travel and employee vehicle commute
Produce an Intergrated Transport Plan by 2025
Resource Recovery
Reduce waste by 30% by 2030
Recover high-value deposit recycling materials, electronics
Reduce hazardous and medical waste
Implement 100% commercially compostable food packaging by 2025
Eliminate single-use disposable plastic across food services and retailers
Climate Risk
Conduct a climate risk assessment
Integrate sustainability and climate adaptation principles into master plan
Staff, Alumni & Student Engagement
Include sustainability in student orientation, alumni and university events
Include sustainability in staff professional development and inductions
Peer-to-peer sustainability outreach program for students
Align sustainability activities with Flinders’ Reconciliation Action Plan
Align sustainability activities with the Flinders' Wellbeing Plan and the Indigenous Workforce Strategy
Student community garden and weekly community market
Map and showcase sustainability initiatives on campus
Business & Industry
Advance sustainability research and collaboration through partnerships
Develop partnerships to investigate carbon offset solutions
Driving Responsible Investment
Considers broader ESG factors in Flinders’ investment portfolio
Aim to screen out, disclose and divest from potential and existing investments based on responsible investment factors
Maintain dedicated funding for campus sustainability projects
Research & Innovation
Map research strengths, grants, impacts and partnerships aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the Research Now portal
Promote, publicly communicate and support sustainability-related research
Explore opportunities to use the campus as a living laboratory for applied sustainability learning and research
Procurement & Supply
Decarbonise supply chain through sustainability-led supplier arrangements
Prioritise purchase of ESG preferable products and services
Spend analysis to prioritise opportunities to improve GHG emissions
Train staff on sustainable procurement practices
Water
Reduce mains water usage by 20% connecting to an integrated water recycling system
Dual recycled water reticulation and water efficiency for new buildings
Mitigate stormwater run-off impacts with low-impact development
Food & Dining
Provide organic, locally produced, high welfare food and beverages by working with retailers
Minimise food waste
Support local food security through local community market and student community garden
Landscapes & Biodiversity
Assess baseline biodiversity and increase indicators, such as flora and fauna species counts and tree canopy and understorey
Involvement of indigenous knowledge in land management
Adopt a ‘no net loss’ approach to development
Develop an Integrated Pest Management Plan
Community Engagement
Advocate for public policies that advance sustainability
Support the improved sustainability performance of affiliated hospitals
Governance & Strategy
Maintain sustainability vision and decision making as integral to the Flinders University Strategic Agenda
Lead as a climate positive university with 1.5C Science-Based Targets (scope 1 and 2), -25% by 2030 from reputable nature-based Australian offsets
Maintain Sustainability Committee with senior-level executive, student and staff membership
Reporting
Maintain verifiable greenhouse gas inventory and track progress
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS®) Reporting
Governance and Framework
Our 2030 Sustainability Strategy contains targets, commitments and actions in the key areas of research, education and operations. It's driven by the understanding that partnering and collaborating with business, industry, government and communities is key to achieving our goals.
Our Strategy
The Flinders University 2030 Sustainability Strategy outlines the bold action we’re taking for a better world.
Our Supporting Policies
We’re committed to embedding sustainability throughout our institution, incorporating our sustainability priorities into areas such as our investment and procurement policies.
Our Sustainability Advisory Group
Representatives from around the University are collaborating in the Sustainability Advisory Group to guide our commitment.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at Flinders
Flinders University conducts an annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory in line with the GHG Protocol's Corporate Standard, using an evidence-based approach to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the development and implementation of targeted initiatives.
Learn more about our decarbonisation roadmap through to 2030.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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