Sustainability and the Environment is one of the high-level priorities in the university's strategic plan 'Blueprint 6' and reflects our ongoing commitment to living lightly upon the earth and reducing our impact on the environment, while improving our institutional resilience.
We aim to tackle global challenges and achieve sustainability through our research, teaching programs, campus operations and partnerships.
Our vision to be recognised as a leader in sustainability research, education and practice. Our Sustainability Strategy on a Page outlines our overarching approach and focus areas.
Download the QUT Sustainability Strategy on a Page (PDF file, 200.8 KB)
Our sustainability action plan provides the roadmap for the university to achieve positive environmental sustainability outcomes.
About the plan
Our sustainability action plan progress report (PDF file, 2.0 MB)
Our sustainability policy supports our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment and contributing to meeting the challenges that will lead to a more sustainable world.
Through the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, QUT has made a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals demonstrating the vital role universities play in addressing these critical global challenges through research, education, operations and leadership. We can all play a part in the QUT commitment to sustainability.
QUT reports on its contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals annually through the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
We recognise climate change as a critical issue requiring all individuals and organisations to respond. Our Climate Change Statement confirms our commitment to reducing activities that result in greenhouse gas emissions.
We highlight sustainability across education, research, our campuses, and sites during QUT Sustainability Week. The week provides opportunities to collaborate, gain inspiration, and continually learn.
We engage our staff, students, industry partners and local community in events and activities that aim to increase awareness, knowledge and understanding of sustainability at the local level as well as the global challenges that our researchers are seeking solutions for.
A study into the impact of global warming on the biodiversity of the Antarctic has identified how predicted expansion of ice-free areas will impact native animals and plants, paving the way for the invasion of non-native species in Antarctica.
A solar farm, which will supply QUT with renewable energy covering 50 per cent of the requirements at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses, will begin operating today, December 1.
We recognise climate change as a critical issue requiring our response. We aim to tackle global challenges and achieve sustainability through our research and teaching programs.
Our sustainability targets and priority actions for operating the university will progress our commitment to reduce our carbon emissions. We will engage staff and students in our sustainability commitment.
QUT has signed a contract that will see 50% of its energy being sourced from a new solar farm in Columboola until 2028.
CS Energy will buy 100% of the output of the solar farm from owners Luminous Energy and on sell it to QUT, Griffith and CQU.
This will significantly reduce our carbon footprint and provide a pathway to achieve full carbon neutrality on our total electricity consumption.
In addition, the university has nine solar PV arrays on buildings across Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses, with a total capacity of 885kW. All solar energy produced is consumed on site – reducing the need for grid electricity – thereby reducing costs and associated carbon emissions.
As part of our commitment to sustainable transport, we have installed three free EV charging stations available for use 24/7, with plug types CCS2 and ChAdeMO available.
Stations are located at Kelvin Grove campus (H Block and J Block) and Gardens Point campus (S Block).
Our EV charging stations are free to be used by all members of the public, as well as QUT staff and students.
Each year Australians use more than one billion disposable coffee cups, with every cup ending up in landfill.
In 2018 QUT was the first Australian university to join forces with Closed Loop and their Simply Cups initiative to remove takeaway coffee cups from our waste stream.
Since conception, we have diverted more then 150,000 coffee cups from landfill.
To decrease more waste to landfill, Boost Juice cups are now also recycled via the coffee cups recycling program.
In collaboration with our partners in higher education, industry, government, business and the wider community, we are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and addressing global and local sustainability challenges.
QUT has partnered with the McCullough Robertson Foundation to establish the Michael Roche Scholarship to drive innovation in the areas of environment, sustainability or climate change within the resources and renewables sector.
A QUT research and industry partnership to boost critical mineral production for renewable energy systems received a $5.24 million boost from the Federal Government. Lava Blue received the Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative funding to support the development of world-leading processes for refining critical minerals used in the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
The first step toward building a national conservation AI network is underway, with the WildSeek Project: Community Wildlife Intelligence Hubs being launched by Landcare Australia, WIRES and QUT. The partnership will bring together their collective expertise, knowledge, and network reach, to co-create and support a network of Community Hubs for the conservation and rescue response of native species.
QUT will play a leading role in ensuring food security and positioning Australia in new food industries expected to create thousands of jobs with its partnership in two newly funded projects.
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