In February this year, temperatures in the UK reached over 20°C (68 °F) for the first time in winter, and the following month thousands of school and university students from around the country skipped classes to protest about climate change and demand government action, demonstrating the huge concerns had by this generation about their future.
So, with climate change and sustainability increasingly high in our global concerns, UK universities have been making great strides to take action on climate change, cutting down on their waste consumption and using more sustainable energy sources, amongst other efforts.
If studying at an environmentally friendly institution is important to you, read on for a list of 10 of the greenest universities in the UK, showcasing the best for climate action, including some that also boast lush green spaces for students to appreciate.
University of Bristol
First in our look at the greenest universities in the UK is the University of Bristol, which last month became the first university in the country to declare a ‘climate emergency’ based on concerns from students, and has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030, having already cut down its carbon emissions by 27 percent. Bristol’s ‘green university’ initiatives include recycling over 95 percent of waste, encouraging sustainable travel through car sharing and free bus passes, and constructing and refurbishing buildings on campus with sustainability in mind, including solar panels, LED lights and natural ventilation systems. The university is also signed up to the UNESCO Global Action Programme commitment, which aims to educate students to give them the skills, knowledge and values needed to create a sustainable future. The city itself was named the European Green Capital in 2015, a title which recognizes and rewards cities which consistently achieve high environmental standards and show a commitment to further improvement.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Amongst other sustainability awards, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) has the distinction of coming first in the People & Planet University League, a ranking of UK universities’ environmental and ethical performance. The university demonstrates its commitment to environmental change and sustainable living through initiatives such as the Big Impact program, which runs a wide range of events and activities in partnership with the local community. It also offers Carbon Literacy training, ‘Pop Swap’, a termly clothing and book exchange event held on campus to reduce waste, and paid opportunities for students to become student sustainability ambassadors. MMU is also committed to reusing or recycling 60 percent of all waste by 2020, and awards cinema tickets and £300 to the most active student flat for recycling.
University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent
Both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) deserve mentions in this list, with both earning top five positions in the top five of the latest UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, which ranks the greenest universities in the world.
At the University of Nottingham, students are encouraged to get involved with sustainability through Student SwitchOffs (in which the hall of residence that saves the most energy earns a party and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream), while the WasteNott campaign aims to cut down on single-use plastics across the university’s UK campuses. Its large University Park campus has also been praised as one of the most attractive in the UK, with extensive greenery, lakes, period buildings and sport facilities.
And Nottingham Trent University, which is ranked third in the People & Planet University League and fifth in the UI Greenmetric ranking, is aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of every student and staff member by 29 percent per person by 2020, and currently recycles over 90 percent of the waste it generates. NTU is made up of 240 hectares of land over four campuses, with the Clifton Campus (located four miles outside the city center) achieving a Green Flag award every year since 2012.
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