University of Edinburgh scores 55/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment — scored from public data only, no company payment can change a number. Last verified September 2026.
That places University of Edinburgh joint 45th of 780 companies scored, and joint 8th of 66 in Higher Education / Universities.
Edinburgh has cut operational carbon intensity 35% over a decade and acquired 5,035 hectares for habitat restoration, but leaves Scope 3 emissions unquantified—likely exceeding 300,000 tCO₂e when included. Energy remains 85% fossil-dependent. The institution publishes strong governance data but lacks third-party verification on core climate figures.
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SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleStrongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (4/10, 4/10).
15 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 61,200.1 tCO2e; carbon intensity 0.0658 tCO2e/m²; 2023/24 EMR”
“Scope 1 describes direct emissions from University activities on campus, such as gas heating”
“Products and services that we purchase account for over half of the University's emissions”
“extension of emissions measurement in UK universities to include Scope 3 emissions generally represents a very large (>400%) increase”
“We will return our carbon emissions to 2007/08 baseline year levels by 2025 (achieved)”
“We have made a lot of good progress, but we are also off track on some of our targets”
“Over £30m has been invested in low carbon technology on campus”
“The solar farm will provide 15 per cent of the Easter Bush site's electricity consumption”
“By October 2025 the programme has secured 5035ha of habitat restoration in Scotland through peatland restoration and woodland creation”
“NatureScot Peatland ACTION funding will be used to build on baseline monitoring funded by the University”
“The Strategy sets out how University will achieve its vision to becoming a zero waste University by embedding Circular Economy thinking”
“We will regenerate ecological systems across a land footprint at least five times the size of our campuses by 2040”
“Since it became the first university to sign up to the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment in 2013”
“Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31 July 2024 — University of Edinburgh”
“In 2021, the University completed full divestment from fossil fuels, becoming the largest university endowment in the UK to be free of direct fossil fuel investment”
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Where University of Edinburgh sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 66 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Edinburgh is tied =8th of 66, with 2 others.
As University of Edinburgh's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.
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University of Edinburgh is Scotland's largest research university, headquartered in Edinburgh. A research-intensive institution. Operates significant estate and research facilities including the Roslin Institute. Major research and teaching commitments across sciences, medicine, humanities, and professional disciplines.
UK research university operating large estate with carbon intensity and nature programmes.
View breakdown →UK research university; comparable scale estate and student population in higher education sector.
View breakdown →UK research university; operates multi-campus estate with energy and sustainability reporting.
View breakdown →UK higher education institution; urban research university with large operational footprint.
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