A more sustainable future starts with us
Our campuses
We operate differently. From sustainable materials in construction, to innovation in clean energy and smart waste solutions, sustainability is a driving force behind how we develop and operate. Recycle, re-use and reduce are words we live by.
Our environment
UniSC is uniquely positioned to champion sustainability, operating within three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Today, our researchers tackle the world's key sustainability challenges head on and citizen science is paving new ways to collaborate with our communities to solve complex challenges.
Our community
At UniSC we promote sustainability and health and wellbeing as a way of living. Our aim? To create a better future for individuals, our community and our world.
We review and assess our alignment with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). We've identified a number of goals of direct relevance and those that highlight the greatest opportunity for UniSC to have a positive contribution on the achievement of the goals.
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Sustainability initiatives
UniSC has an active program of sustainability initiatives that addresses both large-scale issues such as energy, waste, recycling and the campus environment, and targeted activities such as the development and use of green cleaning practices.
Wildlife
UniSC is a flora and fauna reserve, spread over 100 hectares
Energy
Clean energy is more than just a lesson at UniSC – it’s how we will power our largest campus.
Water
UniSC is a Water Refill campus and offers free chilled filtered water
Waste and recycling
UniSC has adopted measures to manage and minimise our waste
Sustainable transport
Travel to campus by bike or jump on the UniSC Express shuttle
Sustainability governance
UniSC's strategic position on sustainability
Buildings
Campus buildings focus on environmentally sustainable design
Sustainability awards
Our practices have been acknowledged through a series of national awards
Sustainability research
Sustainability, aquaculture and forestry are the core research foci at UniSC
Study sustainability
Take the passion you have to make a difference and turn it into the job you do every day.
Sustainability events
Sustainability Week is the main sustainability-themed event at UniSC, but it is joined by events focussed on specific initiatives throughout the year.
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Sustainability Reports
UniSC is committed to achieving sustainability in terms of teaching, research and how it operates. It is important to measure what we accomplish in this space in order to understand what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. The University captures measurable data where possible and qualitative information where measurable data is not available. UniSC feeds this information into internal and external reporting processes. UniSC has developed a biennial Sustainability Report, and annual Scorecard Reports, to highlight sustainability initiatives achieved, transparently track progress towards actions set out in the University's Carbon Management Plan and identify priority areas for the upcoming two-year period.
2020-2021 Sustainability Report
The 2020-2021 Sustainability Report is currently available for download and expands coverage of sustainability initiatives beyond operational actions and across the teaching, research and engagement areas. This report also uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for examining progress made to date in advancing sustainability across the University.
2021 Sustainability Impact Report
The Sustainability Impact Report 2021, which is available for download, covers statistics related to each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2020-2021 Sustainability Scorecard Report
The Sustainability Scorecard Report, which is available for download, covers statistics on a range of areas including waste, energy, emissions, transport, biodiversity and water.
2018-2019 Sustainability Report
The 2018-2019 Sustainability Report, which is available for download includes detail on the sustainability initiatives that the University of the Sunshine Coast undertook in 2018 and 2019 across operations, teaching and research.
Clean energy
We have installed 6,000+ solar panels to power a “water battery” that will cut our energy use by 40 percent – a first for an Australian university.
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Water Refill Campus Initiative
Refill your water and help us to prevent approximately 40,000 plastic water bottles per year going to landfill.
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UniSC Express Shuttle
UniSC express shuttle service provides direct UniSC travel routes to staff and students.
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