Manchester Met celebrates 11 years as top three sustainable university

Manchester Metropolitan has once again been named as one of the UK’s leading sustainable universities in the People & Planet University League.

The University has been ranked as the second most sustainable university in this year’s league table, meaning an incredible top three finishes for the past 11 years.

The People and Planet University league table is the only independent ranking that assesses all UK universities’ environmental and ethical performance across 13 categories.

Manchester Met was given ‘first-class’ status – the highest possible award from People & Planet. It is a ringing endorsement of the University’s commitment to becoming greener and delivering skills training to help others to cut their carbon footprint.

And through its Leadership in Sustainability Strategy, Manchester Met is committed to being a beacon of sustainable development practice, working towards a zero-carbon future and putting sustainability at the heart of everything it does.

Professor Liz Price, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Sustainability, said: “We are committed to delivering a pipeline of green skills and embedding Education for Sustainable Development into every course we deliver. We are also pioneering world-class research in aviation and climate change, nature-based solutions, climate resilience and developing hydrogen fuel.

“Our sector-leading approach focuses on embedding sustainability across our education, research and local partnerships including the Oxford Road Corridor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Manchester Climate Change Partnership and GM Civic University Board.”

Damion Shaw, Assistant Director for Facilities Management and Sustainability at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “We are delighted with this ranking from People & Planet University League, which is a huge testament to the dedication and commitment our institution has made to ensuring we are a beacon of sustainable development practice.

“However, we know there is more work to do. Our ambition is to be a living model of sustainability. Through our Estates Strategy we are transforming our city campus. Designing a net zero pathway that enables us to decarbonise our estate and activities in a technically and financially viable way.”

This years results 

This year, the University achieved 100% across several key areas in the rankings, including: policy and strategy, auditing and environmental management, governance and staff, staff and student engagement and carbon management.

Education for sustainable development and sustainable food also scored highly, between 90-95%.

Manchester Met has extended its sustainability commitment to colleagues and students by promising to embed climate change education and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across all courses by 2026.

The University’s Carbon Literacy team – which teaches people and organisations the knowledge on how to cut their carbon footprint – is working with 140 departmental carbon literacy champions to embed this in education, with approximately 2,176 University colleagues and students receiving their Carbon Literacy Certification to date.

While in the 2022/23 student enrolment survey, nearly 80% of returning students said they are gaining knowledge and skills for sustainable development as part of their course.

The top-three ranking comes on the back of the University’s sustainability leaders featuring at both the Greater Manchester Green Summit and the recent COP28 global summit in the United Aarab Emirates.

The University has also made a firm commitment to supporting Manchester’s city-region on its journey to net zero carbon before 2038. Plans to decarbonise the Birley Fields Energy Centre are already underway, reducing gas use by 27% and delivering an estimated carbon emission saving of 800 tonnes in the first year. Read more about Manchester Metropolitan’s Sustainability work.

Read more about Manchester Metropolitan’s Sustainability work.

See the full breakdown of results and league table from People & Planet University League.