Sustainability

University receives 2:1 rating in 2019 People and Planet rankings

The University has been ranked 2nd in Scotland and 38th in the UK in the People & Planet University League table.

People and Planet

People & Planet's University League ranks UK universities on environmental and ethical performance. It is compiled annually by the UK’s largest student campaigning network, People & Planet.

The University of Edinburgh was awarded a 2.1 score and was ranked 2nd in Scotland, 8th in the Russell Group and 38th overall among UK Universities.

View the University's scorecard

 

The People and Planet rankings are based on publicly available information, from our website and on the Estates Management Record (EMR) made available by the Higher Education Statistics Agency

The University performed strongly across a range of sections including environmental policy and strategy; human resource for sustainability; workers rights; sustainable food; staff and student engagement, and education for sustainable development and less well on environmental auditing and management systems, carbon reduction, waste and recycling, and water reduction.

Find more detail below:
Environmental Policy

The University was scored 70%. Read our Climate Strategy.

Sustainability Staff

The University was scored 80%Learn more about the University's Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

Auditing and EMS

The University was scored 20%Learn more about what we do.

Ethical Investment

The University was scored 35%. Read our Responsible Investment Policy.

Carbon Management

The University was scored 55%. Read our latest report on carbon emissions.

Workers' Rights

The University was scored 75%. Read our Fair Employer report.

Sustainable Food

The University was scored 70%. Read our Good Food Policy.

Engagement

The University was scored 85%. Read our staff and student pages.

Education

The University was scored 87.5%. Read the University's Strategic Plan and Living Lab projects.

Energy Sources

The University was scored 69.2%. Learn about our low carbon and renewable energy initiatives. 

Waste and Recycling

The University was scored 37.5%. Read our Waste Strategy.

Carbon Reduction

The University was scored 10%. Read about our Sustainable Campus Fund. 

Water Reduction

The University was scored 16.8%. Read our Drinking Water Policy and learn more about our free water points.

We continue to improve our approach to social responsibility and sustainability reporting to report on those issues that are most important to our stakeholders. 

For an overview of our performance across a range of key issues, refer to our annual reporting 

Want to make our University more sustainable?

Find out what students can do Find out what staff can do  

Read the University's response to the climate emergency