The University of York has been ranked 39th out of more than 1,900 institutions in the latest international sustainability league table, placing it within the top 2% worldwide. The assessment measured Environmental Impact, Social Impact and Governance, with York achieving first place globally in Governance for the third consecutive year.
Mark Clough, Sustainability Manager at the University, said: “A University needs excellent governance in order to make meaningful progress in sustainability efforts, so to be ranked first in the world shows just how committed we are, and the seriousness in which we take responsibility for the decisions we make in this area.”
The institution also secured strong results in Knowledge Exchange, rising to second in the world for how effectively it works with industry, government and community partners to transfer research and expertise.
York’s position reflects ongoing investment in long-term sustainability initiatives across its campuses. Current projects include a deep geothermal energy scheme supported by £35 million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the Responsible Futures programme that embeds sustainability in teaching, the Green Impact Lab Accreditation supporting wet labs in reducing their environmental footprint, and the Institute for Safe Autonomy’s Net Zero project, which expands on-site renewable energy generation and provides a testbed for AI and robotics in clean energy applications.
The ranking release aligns with the publication of the University’s 2024–25 Sustainability Plan annual report, outlining progress across research, teaching, student work in the Sustainability Clinic, and the development of large-scale infrastructure projects, including the deep geothermal initiative.
