Top 10 in UK for sustainability

20th June 2025

Northumbria University has been ranked top 10 in the UK and among the top institutions in the world for sustainability in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The Impact Rankings rate universities for their work in research, stewardship, outreach and teaching against the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, known as SDGs. The goals recognise that global work to end poverty, tackle climate change and ensure sustainability must go hand-in-hand with strategies to improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth.

Northumbria University scored especially well for its work in the area of responsible consumption and production, ranking 5th in the world.

A total of 2,218 institutions worldwide were ranked in the table, an additional 355 institutions joining since last year with Northumbria retaining and impressively high position in the overall league table, ranking 53rd in the world.

Northumbria also scored highly for its work related to the goals around; life on land; and partnership for the goals, ranking in the top 25 in the world in these areas.

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University said: “Leading by example when it comes to sustainability is essential if we are to have credibility to drive forward environmental policies with our students, as well as within our city and region through our role as an anchor institution.

“A key part of our strategy is to tackle the global challenges of our age, driving sustainability through our research, education and operations. This extends beyond our world-leading research in areas such as renewable energy materials, ice sheets and volunteering, humanitarian crises and development, to the way in which we carry out our operational activities. We know that the way we operate as a university has a significant impact on the environment and the wider community, and we work hard to maximise our positive contribution in many different ways.”

Speaking on some of the University’s stewardship activities, Professor John Woodward, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Chair of Northumbria University’s Sustainability Management Group, said: “Northumbria University has a deep-rooted commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and we are delighted to see this is evidenced in our performance in Times Higher Education’s Impact Ranking.”

“Responsible consumption and production is something we are very conscious of at Northumbria. This can be seen through the works we undertake to refurbish our campus, investing in energy projects that utilise onsite renewable generation, including site electricity generation via PV arrays and buildings that can operate with renewable heat technologies.

“We also have a zero non-hazardous waste to landfill policy, and donate thousands of unwanted items to charity each year both through the British Heart Foundation Pack for Good Scheme and through donations of unwanted furniture arising from refurbishment projects.”

Click here to read more on environmental sustainability at Northumbria and how the University’s activities support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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