UG once again 6th most sustainable university in global ranking

The University of Groningen has finished sixth in the global UI GreenMetric Ranking this year, just as it did in 2025. As a university that houses a variety of academic disciplines, we can be proud of this result, even though we have previously ranked in the top five on several occasions. It demonstrates that working on sustainability requires continuous attention.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to sustainability at the UG over the past year, whether in education and research or in the university's operations.

The UG secured sixth place in the ranking this year with 9525 points. Wageningen University & Research once again took first place with 9650 points. A total of 2016 universities from 110 different countries participated in the ranking this year.

Why a lower ranking than before?

From 2021 to 2024, the UG was in the top five of the ranking. In 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2025, the university was in the top ten. Based on the points awarded, we can conclude that our lower score is due to two reasons. First, less green electricity is being purchased than before (via Dutch Guarantees of Origin certificates), which has increased the university's CO₂ footprint. The university will return to purchasing 100% green electricity in 2027. Second, other universities are once again scoring slightly better this year in the ‘Setting & Infrastructure’ category, which primarily relates to the layout and design of university grounds. 

Sustainability at the UG

Sustainability is one of the core values ​​of the University of Groningen. This means the UG aims to integrate sustainable development into every aspect of the university. Its sustainability ambitions and objectives through 2026 are outlined in the Sustainability Roadmap.

What is the GreenMetric Ranking?

The UI GreenMetric Ranking was launched in 2010 by Universitas Indonesia to draw attention to sustainability within university policies and activities. Participating universities are assessed and ranked based on quantitative data. The number of participating universities grows every year. The Green Office provides the necessary data annually to participate in the ranking.