UG 6th most sustainable university in global ranking
The University of Groningen has finished sixth in the global UI GreenMetric Ranking this year. For the first time in five years, the UG has not been in the top five. Nevertheless, as a university that houses a variety of academic disciplines, we are proud of this result. It also demonstrates that working on sustainability deserves ongoing attention. For now, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to sustainability in education, research, and the University's operations over the past year!
The University of Groningen scored 9,525 points, placing it sixth in the rankings. Wageningen University & Research once again secured first place with 9,600 points. This year, 1,745 universities from 105 different countries worldwide participated in the ranking.
Why a lower ranking?
From 2021 to 2024, the UG was in the top five of the ranking. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, the University was in the top ten. Based on the awarded points, we can conclude that we scored lower for two reasons. First, less green energy is being purchased than before (via Dutch Guarantee of Origin certificates), which has increased the university's carbon footprint. Second, other universities scored slightly better this year on 'Setting & Infrastructure,' which primarily concerns the layout of university grounds.
Sustainability at the University of Groningen
Sustainability is one of the core values of the University of Groningen. This means that the UG aims to integrate sustainable development into all aspects of the University. The sustainability ambitions and objectives up to 2026 can be found in the Sustainability Roadmap. The Green Office is currently working on a new roadmap for the next five years.
What is the GreenMetric Ranking?
The UI GreenMetric Ranking was established in 2010 by Universitas Indonesia to raise awareness of sustainability in university policies and activities. Participating universities are assessed and ranked based on numerical data. The number of participating universities grows every year. The Green Office provides the necessary data annually for participation in the ranking.
Results top 10 2025
|
1 |
Wageningen University & Research Netherlands, Europe |
9600 |
|
2 |
Ireland, Europe |
9562.5 |
|
3 |
United Kingdom, Europe |
9562.5 |
|
4 |
Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld (Trier University of Applied Sciences) Germany, Europe |
9562.5 |
|
5 |
Brazil, Latin America |
9550 |
|
6 |
Netherlands, Europe |
9525 |
|
7 |
University of California, Davis USA, North America |
9512.5 |
|
8 |
USA, North America |
9500 |
|
9 |
Italy, Europe |
9487.5 |
|
10 |
Germany, Europe
|
9437.5
|
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