 |
Students in the UK who are passionate about the environment
should make for the South West.
That's the message of this year's green university league
table from People & Planet.
People & Planet is the student organisation
that seeks to end world poverty and protect the environment.
|
For the second year running, the group has ranked all British
universities, giving them a First, 2:1, 2:2, Third or Fail,
based on nine criteria - from whether they have an
environmental policy to how much recycling they do and their
CO2 emissions. The three greenest campuses
are the University of Gloucestershire - which comes top, the
University of Plymouth in Devon (second) and the University
of the West of England in Bristol (third). Queen's University
Belfast came in in an impressive 11th place - out of a total
of 119 universities.
At the bottom are some of the UK's most prestigious institutions
- including Imperial College London and the Royal Academy
of Music, both of which were awarded Fails. Some other universities,
which excel academically, such as University College London,
also do poorly. UCL was given a Third.
"The green league is driving up standards by promoting best
practice and shining a spotlight on poor environmental performance"
- says James Lloyd, head of campaigns at People & Planet.
"It is a vital tool for students who want to know exactly
how green a university is, giving them the information they
need to make decisions based on environmental standards."
The table shows improvement on last year - particularly on
the number of universities with environmental policies and
staff - though performance on recycling and cutting carbon
emissions is not so evident.
Some universities - such as Huddersfield and Exeter - leapt
up the rankings as a result of a new commitment from their
vice-chancellors and other officers. "We have taken the issue
of sustainability really seriously" - says Professor Steve
Smith, vice- chancellor of Exeter, which rose from 66th to
37th position. "We have reduced our carbon footprint by 17
per cent and we have appointed someone to deal with sustainable
energy."
Huddersfield zoomed up the league table by 63 places to
equal 8th position this year, because it set out to do better.
Last year, Huddersfield managed to recycle only 8 per cent
of its waste - this year, it increased that to 46 per cent,
after setting itself a target of 25 per cent and reduced its
carbon emissions by 13 per cent.
However, not all universities have been able to improve.
The University of Abertay Dundee, which appears in a list
of 10 institutions that "did not sit the exam" because they
failed to submit figures to the Higher Education Funding Council
on recycling, emissions or water consumption, says that it
is not able to monitor all its work on sustainability.
A number of London institutions were awarded a Fail grade,
including Middlesex and City universities - both of which
objected to their positions. Stephen McKinnell, City's energy
manager, said he was extremely disappointed to be placed 105th
and claimed this did not reflect the university's efforts.
"We have achieved a 14 per cent reduction in our carbon emissions
and have recently introduced a green travel plan, encouraging
sustainable forms of transport" - he said.
Middlesex also complained that the table did not reflect
its work on the environment - notably, its green travel plan
and its closure of three campuses, which reduces traffic on
the North Circular.
Unsurprisingly, the universities that come out on top were
jubilant. At Gloucestershire, where the vice-chancellor Professor
Patricia Broadfoot set out to make the university the greenest
in the land, there was quiet satisfaction that the strategy
had succeeded. "We are seeking to weave sustainability into
the DNA of the institution through the curriculum, research,
engaging with the public and through the way we run the organisation"
- she said.
Plymouth praised People & Planet for asking the right
questions and forcing sustainability on to universities' radar
screens. Alan Dyer, associate director of the centre for sustainable
futures at Plymouth, praised the student campaign group for
changing the methodology this year to include ethical investment.
"Sustainability isn't just about being green, it's about social
justice and accountability" - he said.
The University of the West of England, which rose from 8th
to third position, puts that down to a new strategy with tough
performance indicators. "I think this league table shows that
universities are beginning to address the sustainability debate"
- says Jim Longhurst, associate dean of environment and technology.
To view The Green League 2008 - Click
Here
|
