Lincoln retains top 100 ranking in 2023 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings

This achievement is all the more notable given the sharp jump in universities engaging in the global sustainability ranking system, which has been operated by Universitas Indonesia (UI) since 2010.

In 2023 a total of 1,183 universities from 84 countries participated in the UI GreenMetric ranking system, which rates each institution on their commitment and actions towards sustainability, based on six environmental sustainability indicators: Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation, Education and Research.

Lincoln University scored 8,425 points out of a maximum 10,000 points, for an overall global ranking of 94^th.

The University achieved its highest ranking – 25^th – in the indicator of Transportation, and ranked first among New Zealand universities across all six sustainability indicators.

Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Sustainability Taskforce, Professor Grant Edwards, said the GreenMetric rankings were pleasing and emphasised the University’s vision to be an exemplar of sustainable practices for the land-based sector.

“We are New Zealand’s only land-based university, and as such we are deeply committed to developing our nation’s understanding of the relationships between land, food and ecosystems.

“Through our research and teaching, and through everything we do at Lincoln, we are intent on playing our part in Aotearoa’s transition to a more productive and low-emissions economy.

“Participating in the GreenMetric world university rankings is just one of the ways we can demonstrate our environmental kaitiakitaka and showcase our commitment to enhancing intergenerational wellbeing for Aotearoa.

“Our 25^th placing for Transportation is particularly significant, especially considering the semi-rural location of our campus. We are working hard to reduce our transport-related carbon emissions through initiatives like providing EV-charging infrastructure, incentivising car-pooling behaviour, enabling free e-bike servicing and introducing an air travel surcharge, with the proceeds from the surcharge being used to fund emissions-reducing initiatives on campus and in the wider community.

Results Summary for Lincoln University

• 25^th for Transportation
• 36^th for Setting and Infrastructure
• 144^th for Waste
• 211^th for Water
• 229^th for Education and Research
• 324^th for Energy and Climate Change

The international GreenMetric network

UI GreenMetric World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings on sustainability. An initiative of the University of Indonesia, it is a non-profit operation.

The participating universities complete a questionnaire and join workshops and events that are held throughout each year.

The assessment is based on three pillars – environmental, economic and social value – and incorporates the six indicators of Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation, Education and Research.

In 2023 Wageningen University and Research (Netherlands) gained the top GreenMetric ranking for the seventh consecutive time, with Nottingham Trent University and Umwelt-campus Birkenfeld (Germany) ranked second and third respectively.

Go to the rankings website here.

Read more about sustainability at Lincoln here.