Author: jackiesimpson

We’re thrilled to share that the University of Reading has achieved a major milestone in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025, securing a spot at joint 42nd place worldwide. This is a significant leap from 61st place last year, marking our third consecutive year of improvement in these global rankings. Out of 1,744 institutions worldwide, our rise highlights the ongoing effort and dedication across the university to make sustainability a core priority. Our progress isn’t just global, it’s regional too. We’re now ranked joint 26th in Europe (up from 30th last year) and joint 16th in the UK, improving from joint…

The holidays are a time for us all to switch off, unwind and recharge. But while you are taking a much-needed break, don’t forget to give your electronics some downtime too. Shutting down unused devices over the festive period can help you save energy, reduce carbon emissions and save money. With the extended closure from 21 December to January 06, we have a great opportunity to prevent energy waste around the campus and accommodation. Did you know that turning off 1,200 computer monitors for the entire 16 days, rather than leaving them on standby, could save around £2,000? This is…

The University of Reading has been recognized as The Times and The Sunday Times Sustainable University of the Year 2025, a well-deserved celebration of its outstanding commitment to tackling climate change and driving sustainability. For years, Reading has been at the forefront of environmental efforts, achieving some truly impressive milestones. Since 2009, the university has slashed its carbon emissions by over 59.7% and reduced its waste by 35% a testament to how serious it is about making a difference. Whether its cutting emissions, saving energy, or finding smarter ways to manage resources, Reading has consistently shown that sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s a way of life.…

Henley Business School at the University of Reading has earned a remarkable recognition in 2024 by the FT master’s in finance ranking. It’s officially the UK’s business school with the smallest carbon footprint. The prestigious title is a testament to the schools ongoing commitment to sustainability and its role as a leader in shaping a greener future for business education. Our Business School has secured a place in the category for top 10 best business schools in the UK, coming in at number 6. Henley Business School is now 33rd in the world and 28th in Europe. A commitment to…

We’re delighted to announce that the University of Reading has been recognised for its ambitious business travel carbon budgets project that aimed to encourage schools and directorates cut their carbon emissions.  The University has long made sustainability a central priority. As part of its strategic plan 2020-2026, the University of Reading is committed to ambitious environmental targets, including achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2030. One of the key components of this plan was to address the carbon emissions resulting from business travel. The University acknowledged that the business travel is an area often overlooked despite the significant impact on…

Environmental sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do at the University of Reading. It’s one of our key strategic drivers, and we remain firmly committed to our institution wide approach to embedding sustainability across all of our activities. This ranges from ensuring that sustainable development principles are rooted throughout our teaching and research, that our research develops lasting solutions and that we spread our impact effectively across all spheres from local to global. Our latest Environmental Sustainability Report 2023/24 outlines the progress we have made. This report highlights the following areas of significant progress: 1st place ranking in…

The Walker Institute has facilitated University of Reading students attending international climate negotiations for many years and this year we were lucky enough to hold a special event during Green Festival lives from the COP (Conference of Parties) 29. This event had insightful inputs from: students that attended the first week of the COP29 conference, students live in the COP (Conference of Parties) Climate Action Studio in Agriculture and with students actually at the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The chance to experience international climate conference is a unique experience for them, which they all agreed was incredibly valuable to see…

We celebrated sustainability at our Green Festival from 19-21 with a series of different events, workshops and drop in sessions. Over 500 staff and students attended throughout the festival, which is an amazing turnout. Thank you to everyone for giving up their time to show their commitment to sustainability and to all the event organisers for their enthusiasm. It’s difficult to pick out some highlights, but our team really enjoyed: The Introduction to Carbon Literacy workshop with Jen Gale from Sustainable (ish). This session was informative, impactful and inspiring. Jen illustrated brilliantly the scale of the climate change challenge, but…

Cycle theft is a significant concern on many campuses across the UK, and the University of Reading is no exception. To address this issue, we are committed to enhancing available infrastructure as part of an important project, with the purpose of improving cycle security across Whiteknights Campus. As part of our University Travel Plan, we want to encourage staff, students, and visitors to travel sustainably, ensuring everyone feels confident cycling to campus and knowing their bikes will be stored securely. Currently, we offer 4,239 cycle parking spaces throughout campus, including five secure bicycle sheds at Whiteknights and additional secure storage…

University of Reading Becomes the First EnCO Aspiring University and Finalist for edie Net Zero Awards The University of Reading has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability by becoming the first EnCO aspiring university. The Vice-Chancellor has proudly signed the EnCO pledge, reaffirming the institution's dedication to reducing energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency across all areas of campus life. In addition to this achievement, the University has also been nominated as a finalist for the prestigious edie Net Zero Award under the Behaviour Change category, for its 'Our Future First' programme. This recognition highlights the…