Sustainability and SDGs Annual Report for 2021

RMIT has released its Sustainability Annual Report and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Impact Report for 2021. These reports reflect our commitment to accountability and transparency regarding the way our learning and teaching, research and innovation, and operations impact the environment and society.

Professor Sherman Young, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Vice-President, and Chair of RMIT’s Sustainability Committee, said the reports serve as a snapshot of RMIT’s continuing contributions to the SDGs and sustainability leadership.

“These reports highlight examples of our work towards a more sustainable world and our ability to positively influence our stakeholders and the wider community to embrace the SDGs.

“We are proud of our achievements and extensive partnerships and our continuing contribution toward the UN’s 2030 sustainable development agenda.”

Dionne Higgins, Senior Vice President Strategy & Operations also acknowledged the vital role universities play in society and how RMIT has continued to drive innovation in this space and keep sustainability front and centre of our thinking and decision making.

“Two Green Gown Awards were proud recognition of our best practice in sustainability within the education sector across the region.”

“We were specifically awarded for Climate Action and Leading the Circular Economy, two areas which demonstrate a whole-of-University commitment and reflect our important contribution to the wider region”, she said.

Key highlights in the 2021 Sustainability Annual Report:

RMIT was ranked number three overall in the 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) University SDGs Impact Rankings. This included ranking second in the world for its efforts to reduce inequality within and among countries (SDG 10) and third for strengthening partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
Seventy-four per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across Australian operations in 2021, compared to 2007 levels.
RMIT maintained its citation as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality since 2018 and was re-accredited as a Disability Confident Recruiter.
RMIT investments went fossil-free from March 2021, minimising investments with a material negative impact on climate change.
RMIT was recognised in the top five organisations for accessibility and inclusion with the Australian Network on Disability in 2021.

RMIT won two Green Gown Awards – winning the Climate Action and Leading the Circular Economy categories.

Read the Sustainability Annual Report

Key highlights in the SDGs Impact Report:

Research and publications in partnership with 103 countries
1,107 SDG-related course units.

Ninety-nine per cent of scholarships provided to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Read the SDGs Impact Report

The Sustainability Team would like to thank all those involved in the compilation of the reports, with contributions from more than 80 staff across RMIT’s global footprint.

Want to learn more?

Get involved in RMIT’s Sustainability Week (Monday 12– Friday 16 September).

Come along and learn about the University’s commitment, key milestones and the latest innovation across environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Participate in our diverse events program and be inspired to embed the United Nations SDGs and broader sustainability commitments into everything we do from learning and teaching, research and innovation, to operations, diversity and inclusion and partnerships.

Find out more about Sustainability Week

23 August 2022

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