Sustainability research

Find out about our sustainability research, including our participation in COP26.

Research programmes and centres

You can read more about the work of some of our key research programmes and our partner, the Institute for Development Studies, by following the links below.

About us

We are at the forefront of research around climate action, biodiversity, sustainable food and the circular economy. We will also continue to be a key enabler and supportive trusted research partner in delivering sustainability regionally, nationally and internationally.

See how we're creating a sustainable university.

Research impact

Our research helps to advance the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, we were ranked in the top ten universities in the world by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2021 against the UN SDG Goal 1: No Poverty, largely due to the research we have contributed to this area.

Rewired Earth

Rewired Earth is a UK-based, non-profit company collaborating with public and private organisations to change business and financial services for people and the planet. They aim to create conditions that will allow markets to become a powerful force for good.

Innovation in understanding behaviour change to save the planet

Video transcript

Add video transcripts and visual descriptions here.

Our experts have been working closely with Rewired Earth and its partners to co-create the conditions necessary for large-scale change and how to communicate the climate crisis, using language as a tool for change.

Find out more about our work:

Behaviour Change Framework
Humans Discover Disruption Last
Implementation Framework.

Podcast: Rob Byrne on adopting new innovations and technology in sustainable energy projects

Rob Byrne is a Senior Lecturer at the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex. He is also a co-convener for the Energy and Climate Change Domain of the STEPS Centre (a research initiative between SPRU and the Institute for Development Studies).

Working for a number of years in Botswana and Tanzania on various sustainable energy projects, Rob’s background was particularly instrumental in providing real life context for the study of innovation, energy and climate policy. In this podcast, Rob talks about just how complex the process of adopting new innovations and technology can be.

Listen to more Impacted podcasts.

Tackling pollution in our rivers

Water pollution is a major issue of public concern. This project aims to engage and empower people through citizen science techniques to monitor water health and biodiversity and share findings with governing bodies.

Find out more