Sustainable Earth Institute
Advancing research, knowledge and innovation for a more sustainable earth

At Plymouth, one of our key strengths is in using research and technology to develop evidence-led sustainable practices. We work in partnership with communities and organisations around the world to co-create climate-smart solutions, informed by accurate and reliable environmental data to deliver optimal benefit for society and the environment.
Professor Will Blake
Professor of Catchment Science
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Discover how we are accelerating the transition to renewable energy by developing efficient energy infrastructure and technology, promoting natural asset management, and examining how we consume energy more responsibly.
Find out how we are helping the UK to meet carbon net zero targets by carrying out research and innovation, demonstrating leadership, and supporting education and skills development, as well as developing a modern, sustainable campus.
Learn how researchers are working with communities to co-design solutions to the challenges they face, including degraded land and soils, and how technological advancements are supporting more sustainable agricultural practices.
A major new £5.6 million initiative working with businesses and communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to deliver activities around net zero, clean energy, agri-robotics, immersive technologies and coastal communities.
We are supporting the race to net zero by bringing a wide range of researchers and enterprises together, taking a whole-systems approach to research, engagement and solutions to tackle cross-cutting decarbonisation issues.
The ELMS Exchange project works with farmers and landowners to explore the validation of on-farm soil assessment and land management actions from the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
Increasing community understanding of river resilience by delivering six nature-based solution demonstration sites for natural flood management across Cornwall.
Scientists from the University and globally have called for an 18th SDG to mitigate against the accumulation of space junk in Earth’s orbit
The University has agreed a new collaboration with the National Water Resources Institute in Nigeria
The new study was carried out through a partnership between Bradfords Building Supplies and the Plymouth Business School
Researchers from the University are part of the £4million OpenLAND initiative
Sustainability is embedded not just in research across the University, but also in our course provision and campus operations.
Strategic Research Institutes
Our interdisciplinary institutes support collaboration, provide first-class research environments, and showcase the impact of our groundbreaking work.
Sustainability study opportunities
We are recognised as an innovative leader in higher education for sustainability. Learn about our sustainability-conscious study opportunities.
Sustainability operations
We're leading by example and creating a sustainable campus that reduces our impact on the environment across all aspects of our operations.