University of Edinburgh
Endowment Value: £565.2 million GBP (2021)
The University of Edinburgh is a public university located in Edinburgh, Scotland and founded in 1582. UE has approximately 33,000 students across its five campuses and has helped earn Edinburgh its nickname of ‘Athens of the North’ due to the university’s legacy in thought leadership and strong academic research programs. The University Court oversees the endowment.
Since the publishing of its Social Responsibility and Sustainability Strategy 2010–20, The University of Edinburgh has been at the forefront in sustainable action among European higher education institutions. After releasing this strategy, the University took significant steps to align its sustainability goals with its investment strategies. In January of 2013, Edinburgh became the first university in Europe to become a signatory to the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment. Since 2010, it has also invested more than £150 million in low carbon technology, climate-related research, and businesses that directly benefit the environment.
In 2016, the University Court committed to carbon neutrality by 2040. Prior to this decision, in 2015, the University of Edinburgh committed to divesting from the most polluting coal and tar sands companies, in addition to preexisting negative screenings against coal and tar sands companies. In February of 2018, the university announced that it will divest from all fossil fuels by 2021, making Edinburgh the largest university endowment in the UK to divest from fossil fuels.
The University of Edinburgh is a participant or member of the following Initiatives & Commitments:
- AASHE STARS: No
- ACUPCC: No
- Billion Dollar Green Challenge: No
- CDP: Yes
- Committee for Investor Responsibility: Yes
- Divestment Goal: Yes, full
- INCR: No
- Montreal Carbon Pledge: No
- Sustainable Investment Fund: Yes
- Sustainable Investment Policy: Yes
- Principles for Responsible Investment: Yes
Other Sustainable Investing Practices: