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people and planet

LSE and the People & Planet University League

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Methodology overview: People & Planet methodology

LSE scorecard 2025-26:LSE scorecard

Environmental Policy and Strategy

1. Publicly Available Policy

People & Planet award points for a current, publicly available sustainability policy that is clearly approved and is reported annually to senior governance.

LSE’s Annual Sustainability Report is the main public document used to evidence policy and annual reporting.

2. Targets and Strategy

LSE publishes targets and progress across campus operations within its Annual Sustainability Report and Sustainability Strategic Plan.

Environmental Auditing & Management Systems

1. Externally verified Environmental Management System (EMS)

The terms of reference for LSE’s Sustainability Leadership Board refer to an externally verified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) and ISO 50001 Energy Management System (EnMS).

 

Managing Carbon

1. Carbon Management Plan

People & Planet look for a publicly available carbon management plan approved by an appropriate body, containing the elements in 1a–1d below.

LSE publishes an annual Carbon Management Report and related policy documentation which are used to evidence the plan and its contents.

1a. Baseline (Scope 1 and 2)

LSE’s Carbon Management Report sets out baseline emissions and the approach to Scope 1 and 2 reporting.

1b. Target and milestone (Scope 1, 2, 3)

LSE publishes carbon targets and commitments within its Sustainability Policy and Carbon Management reporting.

1c. Named responsibility

LSE’s sustainability team page lists roles responsible for carbon, energy and water management.

1d. Reporting mechanism

LSE publishes annual Sustainability and Carbon Management reports.

2a. Sustainable travel policy (staff travel)

LSE publishes its Travel Plan and transport guidance for travel expectations and measures to reduce travel emissions.

2b. Externally managed residential accommodation emissions

LSE includes an estimate of accommodation-related emissions within its Carbon Management report.

3. Scope 3 emissions reporting (by category)

People & Planet award points for quantified Scope 3 emissions reported across the specified categories (e.g., procurement, capital goods, transport of goods, waste, business travel, staff commuting, student travel, student accommodation).

LSE publishes Scope 3 reporting on water, waste and business travel in its Carbon Management Report and Annual Sustainability Report. [RC2] 

 [RC1]Only a partial estimate so unlikely to meet this criteria

 [RC2]We only have figures for 3 / 8 categories 

 

Sustainable Food

1. Sustainable food policy

LSE’s policy for sustainable catering and food procurement can be found on the catering sustainability pages.

2. Sustainability standards in tenders & contracts

LSE describes how sustainability criteria are embedded within catering and procurement practice on its catering sustainability pages.

3. Sustainable food framework (externally audited/verified)

LSE publishes its sustainable food approach and relevant accreditations/standards under ‘Our certifications’.

4. Space/support for staff/student-led sustainable food projects

LSE support for sustainable food initiatives is signposted under the ‘Community engagement’ section.

5. Plant-based food outlet on campus

Information about LSE’s fully plant-based Shaw Café can be found below.

 

Ethical Investment and Banking

1a. Publicly available Ethical Investment Policy

LSE publishes its ESG Policy as the core public investment policy document. It governs the entirety of the School’s investment activity and was last approved by Council in June 2025.

1b. Additional elements within the policy

Student Representation is demonstrated through a commitment in the committee terms of reference to ‘one LSESU nominee’.

LSE is committed to the highest possible degree of transparency and understanding about our investments and strategies. As well as updating these publicly available pages with the latest information, LSE will also from the 2025/26 academic year: 

  • Distribute an induction package of materials to help incoming staff and students understand the endowment and ESG Policy.
  • Hold an Annual General Meeting for LSE’s endowment., open to students and staff.
  • Provide a regular opportunity for the LSE community to share research related to investment.

2-4. Fossil Fuel exclusions and commitment to screen out specific sectors

LSE’s ESG Policy and screening of investments are outlined here:

5. Engagement with banking providers on fossil fuel expansion

LSE is a co-signatory to the Banking Engagement Forum’s Cash and Money Markets Funds Request for Proposals (Request for proposals: Cash and money market funds | Finance Division).

6. Transparency and accessibility of investment information

LSE publishes responsible investment information and relevant governance pages used to evidence transparency criteria. Minutes of investment sub-committee meetings are not made available due to commercial sensitivity.


 

Ethical Careers and Recruitment

1a. Ethical Careers Policy

LSE publishes employer Terms and Conditions which evidence how employer engagement is governed.

1b. Specifics within the policy (reviewed/approved)

The terms were last reviewed and approve by … in July 2025. [RC1] 

2a-2d. Screening[RC2] 

3a. Careers service structure and staff information

Information about the LSE Careers team can be found on the Contact Us page.

3b. Third-party careers services statement

LSE Career’s policy regarding third-party careers services can be found in the Events terms and conditions under ‘Recruitment agencies/organisations working on behalf of other employers’.

 [RC1]Need reference to who signed them off

 [RC2]Need a statement on our approach to screening Fossil fuel, mining companies, arms companies and tobacco companies. 


 

Staff & Operations

1. Governance – senior staff

Professor Eric Neumayer, Deputy President and Vice Chancellor, is the Senior

Management Committee sponsor and Chair of the Sustainability Leadership Board.

2. Dedicated and expert staff

LSE publishes a full list of roles within the Sustainability Team and the governance structures used to deliver the strategic plan. Details of LSE’s Sustainability Leadership Board, Sustainability Operations Group and Environmental Working Groups are also publicly available.

 

 

Digital Infrastructure

More info coming soon 

 

 

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