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UAL named 7th greenest university in the UK

An installation with a patch of soil and plants growing. There is a wooden raised stand at the back with a wooden dog carrying filter-like shapes on its back. There is a monitor at the back showing a shot of the plant patch which is coming from a camera attached to a cube robot.
  • Written byCommunications Team
  • Published date 09 December 2021
An installation with a patch of soil and plants growing. There is a wooden raised stand at the back with a wooden dog carrying filter-like shapes on its back. There is a monitor at the back showing a shot of the plant patch which is coming from a camera attached to a cube robot.
Image: Future Farming Installation by Agusta Arnardotti, Central Saint Martins, UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) has been named the 7th greenest university in the UK and maintains its position as the country’s highest-ranking arts university in People & Planet’s University League; the UK’s only comprehensive and independent ranking of universities against sustainable and ethics criteria.

Rising 12 places since the last league in 2019, UAL has placed 2nd amongst universities in London, and scored top ranking in Carbon Management – through Scope 3 baseline and Scope 3 reduction targets – and Sustainable Food.

This year’s league, which covers the 19/20 academic year from 1 August 2019 to 31 July 2020, also sees the university’s scores improving across Carbon Reduction and Staff and Student Engagement, with significant improvement noted in UAL’s scores for Education for Sustainable Development.

UAL’s ongoing work to place climate justice and sustainability at the core of the university’s values continues to take shape. The university’s Climate Action Plan, made up of bold pledges, actively engages with the environmental and social issues of climate justice and sustainability.

Ian Lane, Associate Director Sustainability said on the achievement: 

“The university values the work of student volunteers who interrogate, verify and celebrate the contribution the sector makes to climate and social justice. UAL’s commitment to the Green League over the last decade, and climb from 127th position in 2012, reflects the hard work of the entire institution.

James Purnell, UAL President and Vice-Chancellor, comments:

“UAL aims to create a better future through changing how we work, study and operate. Everyone at UAL shares the responsibility to engage with climate justice and sustainability. We are determined to go further, as set out in our Climate Action Plan, building on this achievement and working with our sector as a whole.”