Skip to main content
  1. Library
  2. Search resources
  3. Resource guides
  4. Statistics and data sources

Statistics and data sources

Sustainability data

This collection of datasets and resources has been established to support students researching sustainability themes.

The University’s definition of sustainability is underpinned by the three pillars concept (encompassing social, environmental and economic sustainability) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. 

This collection will continue to develop with the inclusion of University-generated sustainability research data (including data generated as part of the University’s Climate Plan work, such as the Leeds Living Lab initiative), regional and international datasets and open access resources. 

For examples of how to use the data, check out the Sustainability team’s research project ideas for a list of sustainability themes and questions to investigate.

The datasets and sources are divided into three categories:

  • local – campus and other University of Leeds site data
  • UK
  • worldwide.

For each dataset and resource, we have highlighted the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Local datasets

Examples of datasets from research carried out about the University of Leeds campus:

  • Campus trees: Information on 1450 trees across campus during 2017 and 2018. The following information for each tree is provided: location, tree diameter, tree height, canopy cover, tree condition. I-Tree generated data to include pollution removal and human health impacts, carbon sequestration, hydrology effects and building energy effects. This dataset is relevant to SDGs 11, 13 and 15.
  • Campus green roof runoff: Rainfall-runoff and water quality data. Runoff was measured from a sedum green roof on campus (stage@leeds building) and a nearby conventional roof (students union building) from June 2012 until February 2014, comprising 30 storms. Rainfall data were gathered using a tipping-bucket rain-gauge, a nearby UK Met Office Automatic Weather Station as well as the National Centre for Atmospheric Science weather station. This dataset is relevant to SDGs 9, 11 and 13.
  • Campus energy consumption: University buildings energy data. Complete an online form to request the data. Data request requires name of building, level of granularity (30 mins to quarterly) and time period (as far back as the previous academic year or the last 12 months). This dataset is relevant to SDGs 7, 9 and 12.

UK datasets

These datasets are examples of data gathered in the UK:

  • Leeds-Liverpool canal water quality: Mean concentrations of water chemistry variables found in water samples from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in Leeds during sampling from 15 sites spanning 24 June until 8 July 2019. This dataset is relevant to SDGs 6, 9 and 15.
  • UK universities estates environmental data: data on water, energy, transport, CO2 emissions, waste. Data for each UK Higher Education providers spanning the period 2015/16 until 2023/24. Data on emissions and waste, transport and environment and energy and water. This dataset is relevant to SDGs 11 and 12.
  • Moral reasoning and climate positive behaviour: Data on the effectiveness of moral appealing to lower individuals’ carbon footprint. Estimates of the carbon footprint impacts over an 8-week period (October to December 2023) of exposing 156 participants to moral appealing. This dataset is relevant to SDGs 12 and 13.
  • Communicating climate change threats: Data on the effectiveness of anger as a means of acting on climate change. Data from 570 individuals gathered on 13 July 2021 on how anger is invoked to act on the threat of climate change. This dataset is relevant to SDG 13.

UK data resources

Explore open access data resources of UK data:

  • Yorkshire Vitality Observer (YVO): An interactive dashboard that enables users to explore, compare and correlate key environmental, economic and social indicators across 15 local authorities in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Data spans 2010 to 2024, depending on the indicator, some with up to 15 years of data, others with just four or five years available. Examples of indicators include tonnes of CO2/methane/nitrous oxide emissions per capita per year. YVO also provides the option to correlate environmental indicators with socio-economic indicators and test for significance. This is relevant to SDGs 11 and 12.
  • Leeds Observatory: An interactive dashboard that enables users to explore, compare and correlate key environmental, social and economic indicators. Data can be interrogated at city, postcode or ward level. Date ranges vary across the datasets. The ‘Areas of Research’ menu tab signposts to themed data presentations including: 2021 census data and Public Health profiles. The ‘Areas of Interest’ sub-menu presents information on areas of research interest and proposed research questions linked to Leeds City Council's Best City Ambition. This has been developed in collaboration with the University with research questions framed in response to four priority themes: health and well-being; inclusive growth; zero carbon and team Leeds. This is relevant to SDGs 1, 3, 8, 11 and 13.
  • Data Mill North: This is an extension of an earlier data open access data resource initially developed by Leeds City Council. Topic options include environment and climate emergency, travel and transport and health and well-being. There are a wide range of datasets available including conversation, wildlife sites, tree preservation, travel to work data and many other themes. There are also links to other regional data sets. This is relevant to SDGs 1, 3, 8, 11 and 13.

Worldwide datasets

An example of a dataset that includes worldwide data:

  • Twitter data around the UNFCC COP Conferences and global climate strikes: Twitter data gathered around the annual UNFCCC COP Conferences between 2014 and 2021 (with a gap in 2020 due to the pandemic). Data also around all major, global youth climate strike protest events in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Dataset comprises over 17 million tweets. Common keywords are then identified from the dataset (eg fossil fuel problems, Greta Thunberg’s speech). To access the dataset, you need to email the author of the paper (v.spaiser@leeds.ac.uk) and sign an agreement. This dataset is relevant to SDGs 1–17.

Worldwide data resources

These data resources offer you access to data from around the world:

  • Energy-charts: A site for interactive graphics displaying energy production. It shows EU energy data from 2015–2025, electricity production, emissions from coal-fired power plants, energy costs. This is relevant to SDGs 7 and 12.
  • WASH data: The joint WHO/UNICEF global database of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) data. This is relevant to SDGs 3, 5 and 6.
  • GLAAS data portal: Easily accessible, comprehensive data on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, including on governance, monitoring, human resources and finance. This is relevant to SDGs 3, 5, and 6.
  • EM-DAT The International Disaster Database: EM-DAT contains data on the occurrence and impacts of over 27,000 mass disasters worldwide from 1900 to the present day. The database is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Users need to register to make an account. This is relevant to SDGs 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11.