Goal 7:
Affordable and Clean Energy
100% Renewable Energy Pledge
In 2024, the University of Newcastle publicly supported & advanced 100% renewable energy beyond just campus operations. We continue to passionately promote our pledge toward 100% renewable energy throughout the Hunter region.
- Since 1 January 2020, our Newcastle and Central Coast campuses use 100% renewable electricity as part of our commitment to reduce emissions.
- We have a broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality (Scope 1 & 2 emissions) by 2025.
- Our sustainability goals aren’t purely internal: we engage with government, industry, and community partners through research, education, and public reporting. For example, we publicly report greenhouse gas emissions to the University Council and via national reporting schemes.
- We integrate sustainability into our teaching and outreach. Our Environmental Sustainability Policy explicitly states that we “engage with our wider community wherever possible to address sustainability challenges through our teaching, learning and research activities.”
Our goals reflect our absolute undertaking to embedding sustainability principles across all operations; and our priority actions include procurement and supply chains; technological, investment and social innovation; and dynamic water capture and preservation measures.
News
News • 21 Oct 2019
Prioritising our planet
The University of Newcastle has launched Environmental Sustainability Plan 2019-2025. The plan is a roadmap to operating in a sector leading, environmentally sustainable way.
News • 01 Oct 2019
A new dawn for Australian minerals
A new $35 million Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence based at the University of Newcastle will make mineral processing more environmentally sustainable and do much to secure the future availability of the metals we depend on for modern living.
News • 01 Oct 2019
Renewables switch wins Clever Campus award
The University of Newcastle was awarded the prestigious Innovation Award by the Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association at its annual Clever Campus Awards ceremony.
News • 26 Sep 2019
Unlocking answers to the energy supply system of the future
An initiative has launched aimed at providing ways Australia can successfully integrate new energy technologies into the power grid.
News • 17 Sep 2019
Standing for climate action
The University of Newcastle stands for climate action. As announced in late 2018, we will source 100% of our energy needs from renewable sources from 1 January 2020. Our next target is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
News • 01 Apr 2019
Botanical Beauties of the Hunter
Flora of the Hunter: Endemic Trees and Larger Shrubs was authored by University of Newcastle alumni and published in collaboration with CSIRO.
News • 15 Dec 2018
First Australian university to sign 100% renewable electricity contract with Red Energy
In a sector-leading move, the University of Newcastle has signed a seven-year contract with Red Energy to buy 100% renewable electricity across its Newcastle and Central Coast campuses.
News • 24 Sep 2018
Investing in businesses of tomorrow
Since 2015, UON has been working toward sustainable investment processes and practices to measure and improve the environmental and social …
News • 29 Aug 2018
Electric partnership powers energy innovation
A powerful new industry-research collaboration is signaling the emergence of a new renewable energy market – organic printed solar.
News • 06 May 2015
Champions4Change take Blackout Challenge
Champions4Change completed their first challenge by turning off all non-essential equipment in the Blackout Challenge
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.