UCL, or University College London, is a prestigious institution headquartered in London, GB. Founded in 1826, it has established itself as a leader in higher education and research, consistently ranking among the top universities globally. UCL operates primarily in the education sector, offering a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across various disciplines, including science, humanities, and engineering. Renowned for its innovative research and commitment to academic excellence, UCL has achieved numerous milestones, such as being the first university in England to admit students regardless of their religion. Its core services include world-class education, cutting-edge research, and extensive community engagement, making it a unique player in the academic landscape. UCL's notable achievements and strong market position reflect its dedication to fostering knowledge and addressing global challenges.
How does Ucl'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.
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.
Ucl's score of 31 is higher than 60% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, University College London (UCL) reported total carbon emissions of approximately 117,157,000 kg CO2e, with significant contributions from Scope 3 emissions, particularly from purchased goods and services (about 67,020,000 kg CO2e) and business travel (approximately 25,660,000 kg CO2e). In 2023, UCL's total emissions were about 43,891,000 kg CO2e, again primarily driven by Scope 3 emissions, which included around 86,230,000 kg CO2e from purchased goods and services and 18,461,000 kg CO2e from business travel. UCL has not disclosed specific reduction targets or initiatives through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) or other climate pledges. The emissions data is cascaded from the parent organization, University College London, indicating a corporate family relationship. UCL's commitment to sustainability is evident, although specific reduction strategies or targets have not been outlined in the available data.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | - | 00,000,000 | - | - |
| Scope 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scope 3 | 550,000 | 000,000 | - | 000,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
Ucl's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 11% last year and increased significantly since 2018, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Their carbon footprint includes supplier sustainability and value chain emissions data across Scope 3 categories, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 72% of Scope 3 emissions.
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.
Ucl 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.

