Sustainable research

Sustainable development research is a key strength across a wide range of our subject areas.

We are internationally recognised for our research into sustainability, with our staff and students working across disciplines to research and innovate around climate change, net zero and biodiversity, with a focus on recognising a responsibility to future generations to ensure that we provide them with a healthier society and planet than we inherited.

This includes ensuring we undertake all our research responsibly and that we consider the impact of our decisions on our wider society and planet.

Over the next ten years, we will pioneer globally responsible research practices, including reducing research waste, improving design and conduct, placing all our work in the public domain and establishing strong international partnerships to enhance collective knowledge.

The University has a vibrant ecosystem of research institutes, networks and centres for which sustainability is a common thread. This reflects the myriad challenges of sustainability research, from large-scale problems that require University-wide cross-disciplinary research programmes to focused subject-specific solutions.

Net Zero Innovation Institute

Providing solutions for a net zero future.

Masthead for Sustainable Waters Research Institute

Water Research Institute

An interdisciplinary community addressing the grand challenge of sustaining water for people and ecosystems in a changing world.

Cardiff Catalysis Institute masthead

Cardiff Catalysis Institute

We are improving the understanding of catalysis, developing new catalytic processes with industry and promoting the use of catalysis as a sustainable 21st century technology.

water droplet reflecting forest

Planetary Health Research Network

Uniting researchers across disciplines to generate integrated solutions for human and planetary health.

Seal trapped in plastic bag in the ocean

Environment and Plastics Research Network

Providing evidence to understand and tackle the impacts on plastic pollution

Other related centres:

Cardiff Sustainable Finance Research Group

We aim to be a frontier institute in international arena that cultivates a vibrant and collaborative environment for innovative and impactful research on sustainability and finance.

Centre for Low Carbon Built Environment

We have been providing evidence to support the implementation of low carbon technologies in the built environment for more than 15 years.

Hydrological engineering in Switzerland

Centre for Resilience and Environmental Change

We investigate the causes and consequences of changes in the Earth system, in the ocean, atmosphere and on land, from the geological past into the present and future petroleum resources.

Centre for Sustainable Building Conservation

We address critical challenges for the future care of built heritage with respect to climate change, social and environmental sustainability.

China-UK Research Centre for Eco-Cities and Sustainable Development

We are a collaborative venture between Cardiff University and Hefei University of Technology and pursue an innovative research agenda on the development, management and sustainability of cities.

Modern Slavery and Social Sustainability Research Group

A high profile, cutting edge, proactive research collaboration on modern slavery and social sustainability, the first of its kind in Wales and the UK.

Research Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Food (SURF)

The Research Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Food (SURF) carries out world-class research into food geographies - with a special attention for the role of cities and regions.

Sustainable Geoenvironments

Our group conducts applied research into the interactions between the geosphere and human and environmental well-being.

Sustainable and Responsible Supply Chain (SRSC) Forum

Cardiff Business School is recognised for global leadership in sustainability, supply chain management and procurement.

Sustainable Systems and Structures

Detecting and preventing damage in materials and structures in automotive, manufacturing and aerospace engineering.