Sustainability - environmental and social responsibility

AUT is actively improving the sustainability of its operations and taking regenerative action in light of local and global challenges. We continue to nurture a culture of sustainability through learning, teaching, research, partnerships and how we operate our on-campus facilities.

AUT’s sustainability team and Sustainability Steering Committee develop, action and review the University’s sustainability initiatives to achieve transformative change.

In this section:

AUT sustainability targets 2024

Visualisation of the sustainability targets at AUT

Latest sustainability news

Another win for sustainability at AUT

AUT has won the Student Engagement award at the 2026 Green Gown Awards Australasia to top off another impactful year of sustainability initiatives.

A need for more: what tourism changed in the Cook Islands

Hospitality, tourism and events

Tourism brings many benefits to the Cook Islands, but the Indigenous people found there were some advantages when tourism stopped.

Thai women on the climate change front line

Social sciences and public policy

Women are leading the response to climate change in rural Thailand, and are important agents of adaptation to increased weather-related challenges.

Ship anchors leave lasting mark on the seafloor

Science

The impact on the seafloor from the anchoring of cruise ships and big cargo vessels is similar to the destruction from bottom trawling.

Sustainability in action at AUT

The AUT Community Gardens aim to promote sustainability, nutrition and holistic wellbeing in a collaborative environment

'Tukutuku' (our new building at AUT North Campus), is the most efficiently heated and cooled tertiary education building in New Zealand (Photo by Jasmax)

AUT international students worked together to plant nearly 200 native Harakeke (flax) and Coprosma kirkii at our North Campus

Environmental Impact 5 star review from QS

Sustainability targets and progress

report cover

Find out more details about our sustainability targets and initiatives, and see how we’re tracking to meet our goals.

View latest reports

Committed to social and economic impact

Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2026 rank AUT in the top 101-200 globally overall, and in the top 40 in the world for our commitment to decent work and economic growth.

World rankings

Green Impact programme

eco-friendly

Join AUT’s Green Impact programme, and work in teams to complete sustainability actions.

How we support diversity

AUT is a vibrant and diverse university. To find out more visit:

Contact us

Have questions or want to get involved? Contact the sustainability team: sustainability@aut.ac.nz

This page was last updated on 25 Jun 2026.