Lancaster University has been recognised for its sustainability efforts, receiving a 2025 Green Gown Award in the “2030 Climate Action” category.

This award celebrates the University’s commitment to achieving carbon net zero from energy emissions by 2030, and its sector-leading approach to decarbonising its operations while embedding this ethos across the Lancaster campus.

Now in its 21st year, the Green Gown Awards recognise sustainability innovation and leadership in post-16 education across the UK and Ireland. Presented at a ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday 6 November, the “2030 Climate Action” award honours institutions that demonstrate strategic, measurable progress toward net zero.

Key initiatives from Lancaster that won the judges praise, include:

• The Net Zero Energy Centre, a government-backed project that will replace gas heating with air source heat pumps and thermal storage. The centre is set to deliver 45 GWh of low-carbon heat every year - enough to heat 95% of buildings on the Lancaster campus. The centre is projected to open in Spring 2027 and will virtually eliminate gas from campus.
• Expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, building on the success of the wind turbine and upcoming solar farm, which together will significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and could allow Lancaster to achieve its carbon net zero target of 2030 from energy emissions earlier than expected.
• Sustainability embedded in procurement, tracking supplier carbon emissions to provide accurate departmental carbon data and allow us to see any high-emitting suppliers and make efficient changes.
• An integrated approach. We collaborate across the University and with suppliers to ensure that our projects are aligned with carbon saving goals, and set daily targets to hit. This also allows our communication to be clear and consistent. For example, we have set an industry-first with the whole-life carbon assessment of the new solar farm, which has changed the practice of the solar industry.

Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebecca Lingwood said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Gown Award for 2030 Climate Action. We’re proud that this reflects our deep commitment to sustainability and reinforces the bold strides we’re making towards achieving net zero. It honours the passion of our students, staff, and partners who are driving transformative change.”

Head of Sustainability Dr Georgiana Allison said: “I’m so proud of this team effort. Winning this award reflects the unique pace and scale at which Lancaster University is decarbonising its campus and our projection of achieving our 2030 carbon Net Zero target. More importantly though, our submission reflected how seriously we have taken our role as an educator by working with our supply chain, staff and students to enhance our learning and understanding of the impact of large-scale renewable energy technology installations.”

To find out more about Lancaster’s work in sustainability, visit the Sustainability website.