Bristol was ranked 20th out of 154 UK universities in a poll, beating out UWE Bristol (24th), Oxford (25th), and Cambridge (82nd), among others.
From workers’ rights to water use to carbon reduction and garbage recycling, the People & Planet University League examined 13 key criteria.
Bristol excelled in the categories of ‘ethical and investment banking,’ ‘education for sustainable development,’ and ‘environmental auditing and management systems,’ among others.
With a £235,000 investment in more electric vehicles (on campus from 2022), the installation of 80 new recycling facilities, and an award for becoming the first university in the world to achieve 100 percent Green Lab Certification, the University of Bristol’s green mission has had a great year.
This year, Bristol was also granted Fairtrade University status and received a 3-star Zero Waste Award, both of which signify years of hard effort, and it was able to contribute 12.5 tonnes of food to local charities.
Carbon emissions will be reduced even more thanks to a £1 million upgrade in the University’s building management system.
Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Judith Squires said:
“In a year that saw both global action around COP26 and a series of troubling symptoms of climate change, we are pleased that Bristol has performed so well in this landmark survey.
“Our sustainability team has been working incredibly hard to bake the environment into every decision we make, from the food we serve and the water we use, to making our laboratories as sustainable as possible.
“Much of our campus dates from the Victorian era and our important scientific research can be energy intensive. Not all universities have these challenges which makes this success all the more gratifying.”
The 154 universities were divided into five groups by People & Planet: 1st class, 2/1 class, 2:2 class, 3rd class, and ‘failed’ universities. Bristol received a first place finish.
The University of Sunderland was judged to be the least sustainable, while Manchester Metropolitan University was deemed to be the most sustainable.
Despite the success of the University of Bristol, People & Planet painted a bleak picture of higher education as a whole.
People & Planet’s University League Manager, Jack Ruane, said:
“The improvement of some Russell Group universities and the increased number of institutions on course to meet the carbon reduction target are positive signs.
“However, it’s disappointing that the majority of the institutions are still not on course to meet the 15 year long sector-wide HEFCE carbon reduction target before next year’s deadline.
“The sector must prioritize immediate and rapid decarbonisation, rather than celebrate target-setting as far away as 2050 in some cases.”
Information about the 2022 People & Planet University League will be announced in spring 2022.
