Environmental sustainability
At Cambridge, we publish research and share knowledge that informs, educates, and inspires others to drive positive environmental change.
We all have a role to play to increase our positive impact on people and the planet. We are working collaboratively with our authors, customers, suppliers and publishing partners, to fulfil our ambitious goals to reduce our carbon emissions.
Changing the way we operate
Inspiring discovery through research
We publish journals across science, technology, medicine, the humanities and social sciences which build knowledge of the climate crisis.
Building knowledge through publications
Our books covering the climate crisis build knowledge within the academic community and aid understanding of the crisis for general readers.
We all have a role to play
We will continue to share knowledge and research that informs, educates, inspires and raises awareness of s issues in our journals, books and Elements, and hope our actions inspire a shared commitment across the academic community.
Discover more about the work being done by Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Hear more on our Hot off the Press pod
Recent news in climate and sustainability
Our commitment
We’re changing the way we operate and working collaboratively across the industry to scale up global progress towards increasing sustainability in publishing.
We are the academic publishing group of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, discover more about the work being done across our organisation.
How we are achieving this
By 2025...
We aim for 95% of our new titles to be print on demand.
We have already made more than 70% of our backlist catalogue and almost 80% of our frontlist prints available as print-on-demand, but we have more to do. We continue to revise product specifications to ensure print-on-demand suitability and are actively expanding relationships with a more varied set of providers in new locations.
By 2030…
We aim to have converted 70% of our print journals to online-only.
We are working with our society partners, editorial boards and customers to transition journals to online-only access, while concurrently reducing print at conferences and other events. We have already reduced our print copies by over 500,000 copies since 2021.
Looking ahead
We are going above and beyond to monitor the emissions from our academic platforms, to drive greater digital sustainability for the Press. Through data analysis with our partner DIMPACT, we are measuring our digital emissions from online content hosting platforms, and taking action to reduce them. Discover more about this IPG Award-winning work in our series of stories,
We are building knowledge of the climate emergency for both the scientific community and general readers, through the publication of research that inspires and supports the discovery of new solutions to tackle these challenges.
Our publications cover the full spectrum of subjects from soil science to social policy and palaeontology to environmental law.
We aim to inspire action and solutions to the climate crisis from science, economics, law and beyond.
Featured books
Still No Miracles Needed
Mark Z. Jacobson
Format: Paperback
Updated edition describes how individuals and communities can solve the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, and secure energy supplies.
Climate Change Science
Richard C. J. Somerville
Format: Paperback
Provides a concise introduction to climate change science using clear, accessible language without technical jargon or mathematics.
Gender and the Global Climate Crisis
Lise Storm
Format: Paperback
Draws on nearly 100 interviews with female activists and parliamentarians from the MENA to explore women's agency in the climate crisis.
Climate Economics and Finance
Stéphane Dees
(+1 other)
Format: Paperback
This clear guide breaks down the economic and financial aspects of climate change, essential for understanding this critical issue.
Featured textbooks
The Science of Our Changing Climate
Michael A. Box
(+1 other)
Format: Paperback
Compelling and accessible coverage of the science needed to understand climate change, requiring only a basic understanding of algebra.
Global Environmental Politics
Hayley Stevenson
Format: Paperback
A politics textbook examining the failures of global environmental governance though key issues, covering alternative equitable solutions.
Earth System Modeling, Data Assimilation and Predictability
Eugenia Kalnay
(+2 others)
Format: Paperback
This book provides a broad introduction to numerical models, data assimilation, and predictability for coupled Earth–Human Systems.
Introduction to Modern Climate Change
Andrew E. Dessler
Format: Paperback
Highly acclaimed textbook on the science, economics, and policy of modern climate change, for both science students and non-science majors.
Featured Elements
Transition Imaginaries
Benoit Dillet
(+1 other)
Format: Paperback
This Element probes the temporal, affective, and technological dimensions of transition politics and sketches a transition imaginary.
On the Global Water Crisis
Paulina Raniecka
(+5 others)
Format: Paperback
Specificizing the notion of global water crisis through a synthesizing taxonomy of human-water problems based on scientific literature since 2004.
Corporate Climate Adaptation
Maria-Therese Gustafsson
(+1 other)
Format: Paperback
As climate risks intensify, the ways in which multinational companies adapt will profoundly affect surrounding communities and ecosystems.
Ruin Ecology
Marco Malvestio
Format: Paperback
This Element provides a timely, dynamic, and in-depth analysis of the role of ruins in contemporary imagination.
Featured journals
Talking Climate with Mike Berners-Lee
Listen to the experts
Learn more from Cambridge Prisms
How does the current biodiversity crisis compare with the so-called “Big Five” mass extinctions?
Fires, floods, and storms: studying the extreme events that reshape coastlines under climate change
Blue Justice: The urgent need for justice in ocean access, management, and protection
Hear more from our authors in higher education
Essentials of Water with Peter Blanken
100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything
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