Released today [December 5], the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024, ranked Bristol at 17^th out of the 1,403 universities surveyed.

It also found Bristol to be the 7^th most sustainable in Europe (out of 493) and the 4^th most sustainable in the UK (out of 93).

The rankings look at “the different ways in which universities are taking action to tackle the world’s greatest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues”.

The University’s Cabot Institute for the Environment is recognised the world over for its environmental research and teaching. The Institute’s experts – some of whom are currently at COP28 – provide knowledge, evidence, education and solutions that protect our environment and identify better ways to live within our changing planet.

Other recent environmental successes include:

• A 100kW increase in solar capacity, taking the University’s total solar capacity to 500kW
• Its biggest ever increase in electric vehicles. The University is now halfway to its aim of an all-electric fleet by 2025-26 
• New building energy management systems that finetune indoor climate to eliminate energy waste
• Replacing old heating systems with high efficiency boilers

The QS rankings also assessed the universities’ social impact, including their commitment to equality and how “they partner in research between developed and developing regions to share knowledge and spur educational growth”.

Last week, the University announced a £10m programme to tackle racial inequality. It will build on existing work on anti-racism, including outreach in schools, mentorship, access courses and several scholarships, such as the Black Bristol Scholarship Programme.

Staff receive diversity training, and the University recently achieved ‘highly commended’ Silver Athena Swan Charter accreditation in recognition of its excellence in gender equality.

Meanwhile, the University’s Perivoli Africa Research Centre champions transformation in research collaborations with Africa.

Prof Agnes Nairn, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Bristol, said: "We are immensely proud to be recognised as one of the most sustainable universities globally – an achievement that is testament to the hard work of our staff, students and alumni over many years. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.

“There is still much to be done, and we look forward to building on our world-leading research, making our campus ever more sustainable and continuing to champion diversity in our student and staff bodies.”

Last year, student campaign group People & Planet gave the University of Bristol a ‘1st class grade’ in its University League 2022/23, which ranked 153 universities based on their “environmental and ethical performance”.