One Planet
We understand One Planet to mean that resources are finite and that current practices and consumption levels are unsustainable.
Rising to the sustainability challenge
Not only do we recognise the challenge, but we live our values. We rank in the top 25 in the world for work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (THE Impact Rankings 2023). The UNSDGs permeate our University, from how we manage our estate, through our research. They even provide a learning framework for our Executive Education programmes.
Influencing policy, industry, communities and jurisdiction
A key feature of our approach to One Planet is looking beyond understanding of resources. We influence policy, industry, communities and jurisdictions to adopt sustainable practices.
Our world-leading work includes:
- leading the way in energy and water. These critical components of our planet are often intertwined
- demonstrating transition to low-carbon energy and transport in the UK and internationally
- developing new social and technical approaches to water management in the global south
- develop biotechnologies to create a new generation of Living Buildings which are responsive to their natural environment
- tackling the challenge of people living on river deltas: more than half a billion people living in just 1% of global land area
- exploring the impact of plastics in our oceans and exploring new depths
- safeguarding species and their habitats in Asia, Africa and South America
- influencing and exploring the legal dimensions of environmental regulation
Climate change scholarships for women in South Asia
Together with the British Council, we have announced seven fully funded scholarships for female students from South Asia interested in pursuing master’s studies in the field of climate change.
The scholarships are on offer for students from:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
Each scholarship covers full tuition fees, monthly stipends, travel and more.
Climate Writer in Residence
Together with New Writing North, we have appointed a Climate Writer in Residence. This enriches our commitment to examining and adapting our practices to respond to climate emergency.
Poet Linda France will help us harness the power of arts and culture to respond to the climate change challenge.
Linda's writing new work of her own, in consultation with our climate scientists. She's also looking at how writers, artists and readers can engage with climate change.
One Planet research
Newcastle University KATS project (Corbridge)
Our research has shown conservation efforts have prevented 28 extinctions. And we have discovered three new species of fish in the extreme depths of the Pacific Ocean.
We are working with business for a sustainable future. We take learning from our natural environment and drive it into sustainable innovation. From our research in marine biology, we worked with global consumer products giant Procter & Gamble. Together we've developed a new enzyme to improve washing powders. And together we are forming an Advanced Circular Economy Demonstrator.
Learn more about our work with Procter & Gamble
Sustainable campus
We don't just conduct world leading research and education addressing climate emergency. We believe we should reduce the environmental impact of our campus.
The One Planet agenda plays a part in several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Three examples are:
Our Renewable Energy Enterprise and Management MSc is a great example of research influencing curriculum. It is a unique multi-disciplinary course. It blends project evaluation and business enterprise with awareness of renewable energy technologies.
We're committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This extends to a learning and reflection framework for our Executive Education programmes. We're engaging with multidisciplinary research into the Future of Work and Responsible Leadership. So candidates map and measure their actions and work against the UNSDGs.
View our University’s collection of innovative teaching case studies
Global Challenge Research Hubs
We lead two of 12 UK Global Challenge Research Hubs. We are the only university to lead more than one.
Our hubs work across more than 100 international partners including India, Malaysia and Brazil:
Global Challenges Academy
Centres for Research Excellence
Several of our Centres for Research Excellence and major projects underpin our work in One Planet:
- Centre for Data
- Centre for Cities
- Centre for Energy
- The world’s first Hub for Biotechnology and the Built Environment
- Centres for Doctoral Training:
Newcastle Helix
The Newcastle Helix site brings together academia, the public sector, communities, and business. We are creating a global centre for urban innovation in the heart of the city. The site also hosts:
- the National Green Infrastructure Facility
- Experimental energy infrastructure including energy storage, district energy and innovative building management
- the Urban Observatory
Find out more about Newcastle Helix
Our research infrastructure also includes:
- Coastal Stations including the Dove Marine Laboratory and the Blyth Marine Station
- Institute for Agri-food Research and Innovation
- National Innovation Centre for Data
- The McCord Centre for Landscape
- Prof Andy Large: GCRF Living Deltas Hub
- Prof Anthony Zito: European Public Policy
- Prof David Graham: antimicrobial resistance
- Dr Haris Patsios: energy storage
- Prof Hayley Fowler: climate change impacts
- Prof Jeremey Phillipson: National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise
- Dr Libby Gibson: energy materials
- Dr Michaela Goodson: water security and public health
- Dr Ole Pedersen: environmental law
- Prof Phil Blythe: Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Transport
- Prof Phil McGowan: safeguarding species and habitats
- Prof Richard Dawson: GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub
- Prof Rob Edwards: crops and cereals
- Prof Tom Curtis: wastewater treatment technology
- Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service
- International Union for Conservation of Nature
- British Antarctic Survey
- British Geological Survey
- UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- UKRI
- The Natural and Environmental Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- FERA Science – formerly the UK Government’s Food and Environment Research Agency
- Our GCRF Hubs work with almost 100 partners around the world including:
- IIT Delhi
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- National University Singapore
- United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security
Your support is vital to what we do. The ONE Planet Fund supports the University’s collective demonstrable effort to take action on the global challenge of climate change and sustainable consumption. Donors are already funding new research projects making real-life differences.
For more information, visit our One Planet Fund fundraising page.
Addressing grand challenges of food and water security and the climate emergency requires working in multidisciplinary teams rather than individual disciplines.