- Education Guardian,
- Thursday July 3 2008
Universities are today ranked on how green they are - and the new universities come out top.
Gloucestershire University takes first place, with Plymouth University in second, in the "green league" compiled by student campaigners People & Planet.
Languishing at the bottom is the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, while Trinity College Carmarthen is in the second-worst spot.
The green league table, in its second year, judges universities on their environmental policies, their number of environmental staff, environmental audits, whether they have been granted fairtrade status, how much waste they recycle, their carbon emissions, water usage and energy sources.
The student campaigners obtained the information from the higher education funding councils, the Freedom of Information Act, and universities.
Daniella Tilbury, a professor of sustainability at Gloucestershire University, said the university had introduced a bike-sharing scheme and a centre for the study of sustainability in the past year.
The university's vice-chancellor, Professor Patricia Broadfoot, said: "We are seeking to weave sustainability into the DNA of the institution through the curriculum, research, public engagement and the way we run our organisation."
Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said students were increasingly considering universities' green statistics when considering where to apply.
He said some universities "really needed to pull their socks up" when it came to going green, while others had much to celebrate.
The University and College Union responded to the table by calling for staff and students to consult to create a carbon reduction strategy on every campus.
Roger Kline, head of employment rights at UCU, said: "We are keen to play our role in encouraging colleagues to act on climate change. Our local representatives want to engage with employers to explore ideas for greener ways of working and travelling to work. We also want to bring climate awareness into every corner of the curriculum. Universities can lead the way on tackling climate change if they involve all the talents available to them."
He said some universities "really needed to pull their socks up" when it came to going green, while others had much to celebrate.
People & Planet hope its table will turn universities into role models for the public sector by persuading them to be more environmentally-conscious.
Dr John Hindley, environmental sustainability manager at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "It's clear that the league has caused quite a stir in the sector, particularly as far as carbon reduction and environmental strategies are concerned. I am sure that the very essence of universities being ranked on their performance has livened much of the hard work that environmental teams have been trying to do."
Baroness Delyth Morgan, minister for students at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said: "This is further evidence of vital progress towards a sustainable higher education sector. It is also a cogent reminder that more needs to be done."
Ten universities did not take part in the league table. They include the University of Bolton, Buckinghamshire New University, Goldsmiths College University of London and the University of Westminster.
