REDUCTION and management of carbon emissions has helped the University of Reading to achieve fourth place in the 2025/26 People and Planet League Table.
It also scored highly for its ethical investing and banking strategy, staff and student engagement work, and its approach to Education for Sustainable Development.
The university has therefore maintained its top five status in the sustainability rankings, which measure educational institutions’ environmental and ethical performance.
It comes after the uni placed fourth in 2024/2025, and first in 2023/2024.
The university’s score of just over 77% was a 3% jump from last year’s 74%, which it says is the result of particular progress inc carbon reduction and management at the institution.
It means that the university is also the only ‘research-intensive’ institution in the top ten, as well as the only to feature in the top five more than twice in the last four years.
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “Since we topped this table in 2023, it is really good to see that many universities have raised their game on sustainability. After all, caring for our planet is in everybody’s interest.
“Our continued strong performance reflects the determination of our staff to push further on sustainability and environmental action.
“Our new Net Zero Carbon Plan shows we’re serious about cutting emissions over the next decade and beyond, targeting reductions in our supply chain, student accommodation, and international travel.
“As we celebrate our centenary in 2026, we’re proud of our environmental achievements, but we must continue leading on climate action to shape a better world for the next 100 years.”
