The University of Melbourne has made significant progress towards its sustainability goals for operations, teaching and research at the mid-point of its Sustainability Plan 2030, with 72% of targets "met" or "partially met".
Major milestones include:
- Carbon neutral certification for the University's business operations under the Australian Government's Climate Active program for the 2025 calendar year
- 100 per cent electricity from renewable sources (scope 2 emissions)
- 6,398 research outputs since 2022 aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Expansion of the organics recovery program to 26 campus retailers, diverting approximately 43 tonnes of food waste in 2025
- Sustainability leadership roles established across all nine faculties.
Released on the eve of World Environment Day, the report highlights the collective impact of the University's students, staff and partners in driving sustainability outcomes and building a more resilient future.
The University's leadership in this space was also recognised globally, ranking equal 11th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
University of Melbourne Vice-President (Administration & Finance) and Chief Operating Officer Katerina Kapobassis said the report reflects the growing integration of sustainability across the institution.
"The midpoint of our Sustainability Plan 2030 provides an important opportunity to reflect on our progress," Ms Kapobassis said.
"This report shows how we are embedding sustainability across our University. It is central to our Strategy 2030 and our purpose to benefit society – from how we teach and conduct research, to how we manage and operate our campuses, and how we work together with communities and partners.
"While we've made strong progress, we know the work is far from finished. The next phase of our Sustainability Plan will ensure we accelerate our efforts and demonstrate our commitment to leading and acting on the critical challenges of worldwide sustainability," Ms Kapobassis said.
The University of Melbourne's 2025 Sustainability Report is now available online.
