Climate Action Plan, Shared

The University of Newcastle’s Environmental Sustainability Plan 2019–2025 provided a published, University-wide framework for climate action through 2025. It set out measurable goals and priority actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy use and integrate climate responsibility into our campuses, teaching, research and regional engagement. The University made the plan publicly available and developed it with input from stakeholders, providing a shared starting point for discussions with community and government partners.

The University’s climate action plan in 2025

Launched publicly in October 2019, the Environmental Sustainability Plan 2019–2025 outlined actions across energy and carbon, water, waste, biodiversity, sustainable building design, transport, procurement and community engagement. Its energy and carbon commitments included a target of carbon neutrality by 2025 and the supply of 100% renewable electricity to Newcastle and Central Coast campuses from January 2020. These were stated targets and actions of the plan, not a claim that every target was achieved.

The plan supported an Energy and Carbon Management Strategy, emissions assessment, ongoing monitoring and public reporting. A University-commissioned Climate Active carbon-footprint assessment documents the development of the emissions inventory and the work undertaken to measure and manage the University’s greenhouse gas footprint. These measures linked our climate commitments with practical planning and performance review.

Sharing climate priorities with the community

Community participation helped shape the plan. Before its launch, the University held stakeholder workshops to identify priorities for environmental sustainability. The plan also described the University Committee on Environmental Sustainability, with representation from University leaders, staff, students and community members, as a body guiding implementation and strengthening environmental awareness across the University and its communities.

The University has made its climate priorities accessible beyond campus through publication of the plan and engagement with regional partners. As a patron member of the Hunter Region SDG Taskforce, the University has participated in a cross-sector network of government, business and community organisations working towards the Sustainable Development Goals. A 2023 University account of regional SDG leadership describes how the University’s Environmental Sustainability Plan informed this broader regional work. These partnerships complement, rather than replace, the University’s own climate planning.

Working alongside local government on the net-zero transition

The University of Newcastle continues to collaborate with the City of Newcastle to support coordinated local climate action. The University’s climate commitments aligned with the City’s Climate Action Plan 2021–2025, which pursued a net-zero Newcastle. In a 2022 announcement about the University’s six-star Green Star Q Building, the then Lord Mayor publicly recognised the University’s contribution to sustainable development and acknowledged a shared vision for the city’s transition. This is an example of alignment and engagement, rather than evidence that the two institutions had a single joint plan.

In January 2025, the University also announced Australian Government support for its $20.7 million Future Industries Facility, designed to connect researchers, industry, students and Hunter communities in technology development and workforce skills for the net-zero economy. This is a regional implementation initiative that supports climate transition objectives, rather than a substitute for the University’s published plan.

Continuing cooperation beyond 2025

In June 2026, City of Newcastle adopted its Climate Action Plan 2026–2030, a separate council roadmap for reducing emissions and supporting Newcastle’s transition to net zero. That later municipal plan identifies the University and its Future Industries Facility among regional partners and opportunities for net-zero skills development. It extends the context for collaboration, while the University’s Environmental Sustainability Plan 2019–2025 remains the relevant University plan for the 2025 reporting year.

The University's environmental planning and regional partnerships connect institutional sustainability commitments with broader efforts to reduce emissions and respond to climate change. This collaborative approach supports a more coordinated and resilient transition towards a low-carbon future for Newcastle and the Hunter.