Sustainability

As a community we are mindful of our responsibility to future generations and determined to reduce our impact on the planet and to create an environment where sustainable choices are the norm.

Our Commitments

We aspire to achieve Net Zero operational carbon by 2030 and absolute zero by 2040.
We are committed to setting meaningful goals for:
- Scope 3
- Biodiversity gain

Our Sustainability Strategy outlines Pembroke's commitments in the areas of Governance, Investments, Buildings, Biodiversity, Waste and recycling, Energy use, Catering and events and Procurement. This is a living document which will be reviewed and updated annually.

Green Impact Gold for Pembroke!

We are proud to announce that in 2025 Pembroke achieved a Green Impact Gold Award. Green Impact is a United Nations programme designed to support environmentally and socially sustainable practice in organisations. Pembroke's Green Impact Team comprising both students and staff, hosted a number of events such a plant swap, a sustainable travel breakfast and a research talk on beef consumption in Oxford Colleges, and also worked together to implement new initiatives including planting wildflowers and the setting up of a stationary sharing point for staff.

Heat Decarbonisation

Pembroke's heat decarbonisation journey started in 2022 when we created a site-wide operational decarbonisation plan. The plan provides a roadmap to achieving our 2030 Net Zero Target through the direct electrification of our energy provision alongside behavioural changes.

Read more...

Decarbonisation Plan

Recycling and Reducing Waste

Pembroke is focusing on reducing the amount of waste generated across the College and has sought to increase the amount of waste it sends for recycling.

Saving Energy

We are working with our students and staff to reduce our consumption of electricity, gas and water.

Sustainable Sourcing

Pembroke works hard to use local suppliers and selects seasonal produce as much as possible.

Recycling and Reducing Waste

Pembroke is focusing on reducing the amount of waste generated across the College and has sought to increase the amount of waste it sends for recycling.

Saving Energy

We are working with our students and staff to reduce our consumption of electricity, gas and water.

Sustainable Sourcing

Pembroke works hard to use local suppliers and selects seasonal produce as much as possible.

Biodiversity

Pembroke is dedicated to increasing on-site biodiversity and the biodiversity value of its buildings.

Investment

Pembroke is committed to responsible investment and ensuring that our chosen fund managers put ESG considerations at the forefront of their business.

Governance

Pembroke has a Buildings & Sustainability Committee, an informal Sustainability Working Group and two part-time sustainability staff.

Biodiversity

Pembroke is dedicated to increasing on-site biodiversity and the biodiversity value of its buildings.

Investment

Pembroke is committed to responsible investment and ensuring that our chosen fund managers put ESG considerations at the forefront of their business.

Governance

Pembroke has a Buildings & Sustainability Committee, an informal Sustainability Working Group and two part-time sustainability staff.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or ideas of your own, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch!

News and Events

Pembroke takes part in Oxford's Green Action Week 2025

25 February 2025

Earlier this term, Pembroke joined in with university-wide efforts to encourage sustainability practices among staff and students. Oxford’s 2025 ‘Green Action Week’ saw numerous events held across different Colleges which promoted the ‘actions’ we can take as a community to secure a greener future.

Pembroke Awarded £700k Grant for Decarbonisation Project

We are delighted to share that Pembroke has been awarded a grant of £726,710 from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, marking a second major milestone in our journey to Net Zero. The grant will fund a project to decarbonise heating in the Rokos Quad, following similar works successfully carried out in the Hall and GAB in summer 2023. Once complete, a total of 45% of the College estate will have decarbonised heating.

Students and Staff Plant New Fruit Orchard at Pembroke Sports Grounds

17 February 2024

Our latest sustainability initiative was kicked off on Wednesday 7th February, as a group of students and staff headed down to the Pembroke Sports Ground to plant a small orchard of native fruit trees and shrubs.

Dr Nicole Miranda Publishes Research on the Dangers of Missing the 1.5°C Climate Target

Pembroke College Lecturer in Engineering, Dr Nicole Miranda, is the first author and co-lead of an important research paper with fellow Oxford academics titled ‘Change in cooling degree days with global mean temperature increasing from 1.5 °C to 2.0 °C’.

Pembroke Awarded Major Grant for Heat Decarbonisation in Move Towards Net Zero

We are delighted to announce that the College has been awarded £1.36m government funding to decarbonise our historic Dining Hall, supporting the implementation of a site-wide decarbonisation plan.

Pembroke Biodiversity Project Flourishes

28 February 2023

We are excited to share the success of the Pembroke College Biodiversity Project. Set up in 2021 by a team of undergraduate biologists, the project began with two unassuming and overgrown fields near the Pembroke sports ground, which turned out to be hidden gems of biodiversity potential.

Pembroke College Biodiversity Audit

08 December 2022

A number of Pembroke students worked to gather the data for a biodiversity audit. They spent a number of days around the College Main Site, the Geoffrey Arthur Building, and the Sportsground, measuring trees, birds, insects and earthworms.