Essex jumps up national league table for sustainability

The People and Planet University League results are in and the University of Essex has jumped from 62nd to 31st.

The People and Planet University rankings focus on exploring the progress of universities on ethical careers, managing carbon, waste and recycling and staff and student engagement. Essex is ranked joint first in the UK for 'Education for Sustainable Development' and joint 17th for our approach to carbon reduction.

The Sustainability Team has worked hard with other departments to achieve their goal of improving the University of Essex’s position in the table.

Key areas that have contributed to the University’s latest position include:

• We're providing training and support to academic staff on Education for Sustainable Development. As part of this the University has developed its own strategy for implementing Education for Sustainable Development and highlighting research in sustainability
• Our workers’ rights policy, the University's ITC supply chains are covered by independent procurement monitoring organisation Electronics Watch and the University has signed up to the Can’t Buy My Silence pledge.
• Our sustainability policy, strategy and areas for staff to engage are included in our staff inductions.
• Student representation on university committees concerned with estates, planning, finance and strategic decision making.
• Our Students’ Union is working towards mapping and auditing environmental progress.
• Our reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions compared to the 2005 baseline.

Head of Sustainability and Grounds Rob Davey said: “It’s great to see Essex has made further progress in the People and Planet league table, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability across the institution. We know our community care deeply about the environment and our improving position represents the hard work over the last year.”

To find out more about the work of the sustainability team and how to get involved in projects and events please visit our sustainability web pages.