Tuesday, 08 December 2020
The University of Nottingham has been ranked 3rd in the world in a list of the most sustainable universities.
The UI Green Metric, produced by the Universitas Indonesia, is the only university ranking in the world that measures each participating university’s commitment in developing an ‘environmentally friendly’ infrastructure. The rankings look at six indicators: setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation and education.
Since first taking part in 2010, Nottingham has consistently been placed in the top four. Over 900 universities from 84 countries took part in the 2020 rankings.
In the past year, Nottingham published a University strategy putting sustainability at the heart of the institution’s core goals and committing to joining the city of Nottingham in its ambitions to become carbon-neutral by 2028. In March 2020 the University joined other institutions in declaring a climate emergency.
John Atherton, Pro Vice Chancellor and Chair of the University Sustainability Committee said: “The University of Nottingham is delighted to once again be recognised for the hard work it is doing to embed environmental sustainability across the institution and make it an integral part of our education and research. Our global research programme includes a focus on sustainable food production and future food security, green chemicals to tackle greenhouse gases, and sustainable propulsion.”
“Year-on-year we have reduced our carbon dioxide emissions on campus, achieving a total reduction of 40% since 2009 and exceeding the target set in 2010 by almost 2,000 tonnes."
New ambitious carbon reduction targets are being developed using a science-based approach to ensure the University achieves its ‘fair share’ in reducing global emissions below 1.5 degrees.
Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands, took the top spot, followed by the University of Oxford in second place. Nottingham Trent University took fourth place, giving Nottingham a remarkable double classification in the top four world rankings.
More information on University of Nottingham Sustainability can be found here.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…