Lincoln University achieves green campus status in GreenMetric World University Rankings

Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University has significantly improved its global sustainability ranking in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings for 2024, moving up nine places to 85th.

This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the jump of 294 universities engaging in the global sustainability ranking system operated by Universitas Indonesia (UI). Lincoln is the only New Zealand university to participate in this ranking.

In 2024, a total of 1,147 universities from 95 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 8,565 points out of a maximum of 10,000 points, achieving its highest ranking of 66th in the indicator of Setting and Infrastructure. 

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

“Lincoln University is Aotearoa’s only specialist land-based university, and we are committed to facilitating excellent education and research to help shape a world that benefits from a greater understanding of the relationship between land, food and ecosystems. This is reflected in our continuous evolution of programmes with the Bachelor of Commerce (Sustainability) and the Master of Environment and Agriculture being recently introduced to focus on balancing commercial needs with environmental sustainability.

“Our researchers and students are leading positive and impactful change in the land-based sectors at a time when society is demanding more efficient and sustainable production practices that safeguard the environment and intergenerational wellbeing.

“Through our participation in the GreenMetric world university rankings, we are demonstrating Lincoln University’s environmental kaitiakitaka to a global audience, while also showcasing our renowned campus experience.”

The decade-long campus development programme has delivered a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art campus assets that help position the University for a successful future while significantly increasing its use and generation of renewable energy and hugely reducing its carbon footprint.

“As an example, our new flagship science facility Waimarie has been built to level 4 Green Star standard, incorporating solar panels that bring the University’s total annual solar generation up to 802,000 kWh. With our continued focus on reducing our carbon emissions, we are on track to reach our goal for our campus to be carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050.”

Results summary for Lincoln University

66th for Setting and Infrastructure

97th for Transportation

104th for Education and Research

147th for Energy and Climate Change

231st for Water

257th for Waste

The international GreenMetric network

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

Participating universities complete a questionnaire and join workshops and events that are held throughout each year. From there, each university’s 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 2024, Wageningen University and Research (Netherlands) gained the top GreenMetric ranking for the eighth consecutive time, with Nottingham Trent University and University of Groningen (Netherlands) ranked second and third respectively.

Go to the rankings website here.

Read more about sustainability at Lincoln here.