Imperial College London Sustainability Profile
Imperial College London, often referred to simply as Imperial, is a prestigious institution located in the heart of London, GB. Founded in 1907, it has established itself as a leader in science, engineering, medicine, and business education. With a strong emphasis on research and innovation, Imperial is renowned for its cutting-edge contributions to various fields, including healthcare, technology, and environmental science. The college offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, distinguished by its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application. Imperial's unique approach to education fosters a culture of entrepreneurship and critical thinking, positioning it among the top universities globally. Notable achievements include consistently ranking within the top ten universities worldwide, reflecting its strong market position and influence in academia and industry alike.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Imperial College London's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Education Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
Imperial College London's score of 50 is higher than 74% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Imperial College London's reported carbon emissions
In 2024, Imperial College London reported total carbon emissions of approximately 244,000,000 kg CO2e. This figure includes 19,509,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 emissions, primarily from stationary combustion, and 22,874,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 emissions, all attributed to purchased electricity. The college's Scope 3 emissions were significant, amounting to about 201,174,000 kg CO2e, with business travel contributing 34,473,000 kg CO2e and employee commuting accounting for 1,904,000 kg CO2e. In comparison, the 2023 emissions data indicated a total of approximately 264,017,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at 36,792,000 kg CO2e and Scope 2 emissions at 14,192,000 kg CO2e. The Scope 3 emissions for that year were around 187,722,000 kg CO2e. Imperial College London has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce total Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions from energy consumption by 15% by the end of the 2025–26 fiscal year, using 2018–19 as the baseline. This target reflects a proactive approach to mitigating climate impact and aligns with industry standards for carbon reduction. The college's emissions data is not cascaded from any parent organization, indicating that these figures are independently reported. Overall, Imperial College London is actively working towards significant emissions reductions while maintaining transparency in its sustainability efforts.
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| 2013 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 37,627,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 37,818,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | 000,000,000 | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is Imperial College London's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is Imperial College London's Location?
Imperial College London's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
Imperial College London's Scope 3 emissions, which increased by 7% last year and increased by approximately 23% since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Business Travel" being the largest emissions source at 17% of Scope 3 emissions.
Top Scope 3 Categories
Imperial College London's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Imperial College London has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
