Leicester climbs 32 places in global sustainability rankings
University of Leicester campus
The University of Leicester has risen 32 places to 125th in the world and is now 34th in the UK, in the 2026 QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
This follows last year’s jump of 28 places to 157th globally – demonstrating the institution’s continued commitment to driving its sustainability agenda.
The rankings are based on three main categories: Environmental Impact, Social Impact and Governance. They provide a unique and detailed framework to assess how universities are taking action to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
Research is taking place across the University of Leicester to tackle climate change, as demonstrated by academics who recently brought their expert insights to the heart of COP30.
Sustainability is at the core of the University’s Institute for Environmental Futures, which carries out transformative and transdisciplinary research into human-environment systems, co-developing policy solutions and innovations towards an environmentally sustainable future.
The NERC National Centre for Earth Observation is also headquartered at the University of Leicester, and is home to researchers working to tackle low quality of air in urban areas, protecting peatlands and reducing methane emissions.
The University has championed the UN Sustainable Development Goals since 2017 and is on track to reach net zero by 2040.