Sustainable Practices Targets

The University of Newcastle measures and sets targets for more sustainable commuting measures through its strategic and environmental planning, and implements initiatives to support low carbon transport modes. In 2025, this progress continued in the following ways:

Embedded in Strategic & Environmental Plans

  • Our Environmental Sustainability Plan 2019‑2025 includes a dedicated Transport component with priority actions, targets, and metrics (see page 21).
  • Under the Sustainability goals, Transport is explicitly listed among our strategic priorities, which include advocating for Under the Sustainability goals, Transport is explicitly listed among our strategic priorities, which include advocating for active travel, reducing fleet emissions, and influencing modal shift in staff and student commuting. This directly links the University’s transport planning to more sustainable commuting by staff and students.
  • The University also maintains an Environmental Sustainability Policy which underpins these commitments. The policy was effective from the 8th of December 2022 and will be reviewed in December 2025.

Targets & Measures of Success

Within the Transport section of our sustainability planning, we have established targets and measures of success, including:

  • Ensuring no net increase in car space provision relative to the 2018 baseline, supporting a shift away from increased reliance on private vehicle commuting.
  • As a broader transport-emissions measure, conducting a full inventory of emissions from staff air travel and fleet vehicles and aiming to offset these by 2025.
  • Encouraging sustainable transport modes through our Strategic Transport Management Plan, which is implemented across the University and supports the objective of influencing modal shift in staff and student commuting.
  • In 2025, the University monitored participation and environmental outcomes from its Liftango rideshare program. The program recorded 14,985 matched rides from 457 registered users, with an estimated 7,491 cars removed from the road and 24,580 kg of CO₂ saved. These results provide measurable evidence of progress towards encouraging more sustainable staff and student commuting and reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicle travel.

Implementation & Infrastructure

In 2025, the University have continued implementing concrete measures to support these sustainable commuting objectives, including:

  • Shuttle services
    We operate a free shuttle bus connecting Callaghan and Newcastle City campuses. This service runs at frequent intervals (every 30 minutes, Monday to Friday), helping reduce private vehicle trips.
  • Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
    Dual EV charging stations are installed at central parking bays on our campuses, accessible by staff, students, and visitors.
    At Callaghan, we initially installed four dual charging stations (with infrastructure capacity for more) powered by 100% renewable electricity.
    Importantly, the University is replacing conventional fleet vehicles with EVs to align with our carbon neutrality goals.
  • Cycle & active travel support
    The Transport strategy explicitly supports “active travel to and from our campuses,” which includes walking and cycling modes. The University’s  
    City campus is located in the CBD, with access to public transport and active travel options.

These targets, measures and supporting initiatives demonstrate an institution-wide approach to measuring and encouraging more sustainable commuting, with an explicit focus on modal shift in staff and student travel.