43rd
Globally
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026
Our approach to sustainability
The University of Birmingham was England’s first civic university, founded on social responsibility. Now, 125 years later, we see no greater responsibility than ensuring our planet thrives to support future generations.
In June 2022, the University of Birmingham declared a climate emergency. We need to do more and do it quickly to help the world reduce the impacts of climate crisis. We have embodied our commitment to sustainability within our Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework, outlining our approach to delivering positive change, not only through our research, education, operations and partnerships, but through the behaviour and actions of our students and staff, and our engagement with our local communities.
Our institution is in a distinctive and privileged position to make a difference. We have got the skills, expertise and partnerships across a range of disciplines and sectors to play a significant role in tackling some of the biggest climate change and sustainability challenges – along with the purposefulness to make a real difference.
How it’s going: our progress
- 16th
In the UK
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026
- 68th
In the UK
People & Planet University League 2024/25
- 360 Sustainability Champions across the University
- 400 delegates attended the University’s Greener Surgery Conference
- three prize-winning teams in the Reimagine our Future competition
- over 4,300 hours of volunteering dedicated to BIFoR by staff and students
- over 1,000 school students and teachers have been educated about the impacts of climate change through BIFoR
- 60 students have completed a sustainability-focused internship to date.
Our vision
We are seeking to lead and our ambition is to embed sustainability in everything we do. Our pioneering research, transformative education, and adoption of environmentally responsible practices across our campuses are combining to forge a path that makes it easy for others to follow – galvanising our community to innovate and create spaces in which sustainable thinking comes as second nature.
Our governance
The University Executive Board meets regularly to steer the implementation of University strategic framework and policies, including the Sustainability Pillar. Our Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sustainability, Director of Sustainability Education and Head of Sustainability support University Executive Board, working together to lead our University community to achieve our sustainability goals, in partnership with our Sustainability Steering Group.
Sustainability Steering Group
Our Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) is the leadership body for sustainability within the University, responsible for ensuring that sustainability is embedded in University governance, planning, risk management, decision-making, and delivery. SSG agrees targets and tracks progress; commissions projects to deliver sustainability priorities and our net zero commitment; develops institutional sustainability strategy and policy and produces annual sustainability and carbon accounting reports. SSG may commission Action Groups to drive and coordinate delivery of our sustainability priorities or a Task and Finish Group to deliver a specific, time-bound task or project.
Where next?
This website is not here as a corporate nod to sustainability; it is intended to be an empowering tool and informative resource for anyone who wants to discover more about living and working sustainably with the University of Birmingham.
- Delve into the exciting, world-changing research being led by our inspirational academics every day.
- Learn how we’re supporting our local communities and region.
- Tap into our educational resources.
- Use our policies or action plans to inform your approach to environmentally responsible practice
- Explore the sustainability-focused courses we offer.
- And find out how you can get involved whether you’re a prospective or current student, educator, alumni, local Brummie, or business keen to collaborate with us.
It’s our world. Let’s change it for the better.
