Climate adaptation and resilience
The University of Salford is taking action to prepare for the impacts of climate change and ensure our campus, people, and operations remain resilient in the decades ahead.
Why this matters
Climate change is already affecting Greater Manchester. We are facing:
- More frequent and intense heatwaves
- Increased flood risk from heavy rainfall and river systems
- More extreme weather events, including storms
- Growing pressure on infrastructure, supply chains, and wellbeing
These risks affect how we learn, teach, work, and operate as a university.
Our approach
Our Climate Adaptation Plan sets out how we will:
- Understand climate risks through a comprehensive risk assessment
- Design resilient buildings and campuses for future conditions
- Protect teaching, research, and operations during extreme weather
- Support health, wellbeing, and equity for our community
- Work with partners across Greater Manchester to build regional resilience
Key areas of action
We are focusing on eight priority themes:
- Flood and water management
- Heat and overheating in buildings
- Green infrastructure and biodiversity
- Critical digital and utility systems
- Climate-ready estates and projects
- Operational and supply chain resilience
- Health, wellbeing, and inclusion
- Partnerships and local action
A living, evolving plan
This is not a static document. We will:
- Monitor climate risks and impacts year by year
- Track progress through clear performance indicators
- Update actions as climate risks evolve
- Report annually as part of our sustainability reporting
Supporting research and teaching
We are using our campus as a living laboratory, connecting students and researchers with real-world climate challenges through initiatives such as: