Top universities for climate action 2025
These are the universities tackling climate change and putting climate action at the forefront of their agenda. Explore the top 100 universities for climate action, based on data collected as part of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
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Warnings from environmentalists about the dangers of climate change have become louder and louder over the past few years. If we don’t drastically cut carbon emissions, there will be serious repercussions for the planet.
Many universities are providing great examples of how to combat climate change through pledging to hit zero carbon emissions, refitting buildings to be more energy-efficient and arming students with the knowledge and skills to make individual changes.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) look to tackle some of today’s biggest global issues, and one of them, SDG 13, covers climate action.
As part of the 2025 Impact Rankings,Times Higher Education has ranked universities according to how they are contributing to climate action. Some of the measures taken into account for the ranking are low-carbon energy use, a commitment to carbon neutrality and working with local or national governments to address climate change. You can read more about the methodology here.
Top five universities for climate action
1. University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania scored highly in a range of metrics on climate action, including for the number of climate action papers published, low-carbon energy tracking, the number of local education programmes about climate and its commitment to carbon neutrality.
The university’s Climate Futures Research Group works with industry and government agencies around Australia to create projections about the impact of climate change on a range of sectors including wine production and ski resorts.
2. University of Newcastle
The University of Newcastle, located in Callaghan, Australia, is ranked second for climate action. It climbs seven places from last year’s ninth position.
The university has committed to reaching net zero by 2030 and to supporting this same target in the city of Newcastle.
The Students’ Union promotes climate action events, demonstrations and petitions to get students involved in sustainability practices.
=3. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is a life and environmental sciences university, founded in 1977.
The university places a strong emphasis on research and much of this research is into environmental sustainability and developing the bioeconomy. One of the university’s main aims is to collect environmental data that can be used to develop environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
=3. UNSW Sydney
UNSW Sydney is the third Australian university in the top five for SDG 13.
The university has made a range of commitments to tackle climate change, including 30 per cent lower emissions by 2025, 50 per cent lower emissions by 2030 and to be carbon-neutral by 2050.
The Climate Change Network is a collective of staff and students who hold regular events and activities to combat climate change within the university and local community.
5. University of Victoria
The University of Victoria has a strategic framework in place that outlines the measures it is taking to tackle climate change.
One of these measures is to ensure students are engaged with the principles of sustainability and have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of sustainable practices.
The university is also in the process of consulting staff, students and the local community on a climate and sustainability action plan containing measurable outcomes.
