University News Last updated 12 December 2022
Birmingham City University (BCU) has been recognised as a leading institution in the latest People & Planet University League, an annual report which ranks universities by environmental and ethical performance.
Birmingham City University
BCU ranks as the top-scoring university in Birmingham, third within the West Midlands and 26th in the UK.
The University has jumped up by five places compared to last year, becoming a ‘1st Class’ institution in the 2022/23 rankings.
Birmingham City University also met a sector-wide target to reduce its carbon emissions by 43% between 2005-6 and 2020-21, underscoring its status as a leading institution for sustainability and environmental performance.
“It’s great to be recognised as a first-class institution in the latest People & Planet university league rankings, and we’re really pleased to have met the sector wide target of reducing carbon emissions,” said Neva Mowl, Environmental Officer at Birmingham City University.
“The University has a responsibility to ensure our students recognise the importance of sustainability, through the education provided to them and their experience on campus. We want our graduates to leave BCU equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to address sustainability challenges and opportunities now and in the future.
“Whilst the league highlights some of BCU’s achievements, there is still a lot to be done. The update of our Environmental Plan in 2023 will support progress, as will the development of BCU’s net zero carbon strategy and our first biodiversity action plan. We look forward to continuing our work with the University community and partners to further drive the sustainability agenda forward.”
The People & Planet’s University League is the largest student environmental campaign group in the UK, where more than 150 universities are judged against multiple categories, from education and environmental policy to recycling waste and carbon management.
Institutions are ranked according to their scores in each area, before receiving an overall degree-style classification.
BCU was also recently named as a Platinum Tier university in this year’s USwitch rankings.