Climate Change

The future of our planet and the place we call home is at stake. We're facing catastrophic change to our climate and environment if we don’t reverse the damage we've inflicted on the Earth.

The success of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is crucial in creating the ambitious action we need to prevent global temperatures rising above 1.5C and to protect our planet and people from the intensifying impact of climate change.

Through our teaching and Sustainability and the Environment research, we're pioneering ways of addressing the climate crisis. Our research is informing global policy to help mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. We're developing low carbon technologies and green infrastructure. And examining the impact of plastics and pharmaceuticals so we can support the restoration of ecological systems and biodiversity.

Sustainability is also an integral part of our strategy – we aim to become climate positive by 2030.

Plastics worsen climate change

The impacts of plastic pollution are well known. But plastic contributes to another, less visible, environmental problem — climate change. Find out how our Revolution Plastics initiative is taking action.

By 2050, it is estimated that the plastics industry will consume 20% of total oil production, and 15% of the annual carbon budget.
Plastic pollution reduces the resilience of communities and the natural world to cope with climate change.
Plastic pollution is making the impact of climate change worse.

Revolution Plastics Institute

From combatting microplastics to analysing plastic policies around the globe, we’re putting our research into practice, working with local groups, organisations, businesses and individuals to solve the planet's plastic problem.

Find out more

Research centres

These research centres bring together expertise and resources from across the University to tackle climate change and other pressing environmental issues.

Centre for Blue Governance

We're committed to the protection, restoration and sustainable governance of our aquatic environments

Centre for Applied Geosciences

At the Centre for Applied Geosciences at the University of Portsmouth, we investigate natural and manmade hazards and geo-heritage conservation. Find out more

Centre for Enzyme Innovation

At the Centre for Enzyme Innovation, we are working to solve one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our planet.

petri dish from centre for enzyme research

Explore our research

Research features

We create world-leading research of the highest quality that has local, national and global impact. Explore some of our climate change research features below.

Using maths to help tackle climate change

Aerial picture of solar panels in a field, next to a road

From rags to environmental riches

Dr Elaine Igoe explains how we’re making fashion more sustainable through our teaching, design and research.

Driving us closer to greener transport

Britain's burning question

Dr Mark Hardiman is exploring what sort of wildfires Britain can expect from global warming.

Smoke rising from a grassland wildfire next to a forest

Control systems are integrating renewable energy with the power grid

MaCoBioS

The Marine Coastal Ecosystems Biodiversity and Services in a Changing World project's chief objective is to ensure the efficient and integrated management and conservation strategies to help the most-important marine coastal ecosystems to face climate change.
PO1 Sustainable Fashion and Textiles

The PO1 research project aims to create a sustainable fashion system that minimises waste and benefits our students, the environment and the local economy.
Solarise

The objective of the SOLARISE project is to facilitate the deployment and adoption of solar electricity/heat generation in the 2 Seas region.
PlastiCity

The PlastiCity project will carry out a study on the compositions and quantities of industrial and commercial plastic waste in the urban environment, and to develop strategies and solutions that can increase recycling in urban environments from 20–30% to over 50%.

Sustainability at Portsmouth

The future of our planet is in everyone's hands and we're doing all we can to help. We're aiming for sustainability across all our activities and working towards a low-carbon future. We're continually improving our sustainability practices to minimise our impact on the environment.