Governance, Strategy and Policies

Governance in sustainability

Our Global Environmental Sustainability Strategy is community-based, data-led and influenced by science-based targets as we seek to reduce our environmental impact, enhance our climate mitigation and contribute to sector-wide efforts. We are proud to have contributed to a new tertiary education sector-led proposal on ‘Accelerating towards Net Zero', an ambitious roadmap for reducing CO2 emissions across the tertiary education sector. You can read can read or download the full report on this link at the Royal Anniversary Trust.

Specific actions arising from the commitments are the responsibility of Heriot-Watt University Executive and the governing body, The Court, working with the whole University community.

The strategy and policy documents below, and in development, detail the pathways to attaining these commitments:

• Global Environmental Sustainability Strategy
• Climate Action Framework
• Biodiversity Action Plan - our commitment to protecting and promoting biodiversity on our campuses,
• Strategic Travel Plan – Edinburgh Campus - our commitment to reducing the impact of travel associated with university operations on our largest campus
• Our Global Environment Sustainability Policy - our commitment to supporting the sustainability of our global campuses
• Strategy 2025 - shaping tomorrow together

The University Committee for Global Environmental Sustainability (Chaired by the Deputy Principal for Global Sustainability) reports directly into the University Executive on delivery of the 10 commitments (above) and the sustainability objectives set across the whole University. Its purpose is to provide leadership and oversight of the delivery and further development of the University's Global Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

The membership includes:

• Deputy Principal (Global Sustainability), Chair
• Deputy Principal (Education and Student Life)
• Student Union President or Vice President (representing student voice on the Committee)
• Deputy Principal (Research and Impact)
• Chief Scientist
• Global Director of Information Services
• Global Director of Estates and Facilities
• Executive Dean
• Strategic Programme Lead, Global Sustainability

Read the Terms of Reference of the University Committee for Global Environmental Sustainability.

We are also embedding governance responsibilities relating to sustainability within each of the Terms of Reference for the Court and relevant Court Committees. This includes:

• Court
• Audit and Risk Committee
• Donations and Investment Committee
• Finance Committee
• Global Student Life Committee
• Governance and Nominations Committee
• Infrastructure Committee
• Staff Committee