In the Carbon Targets ranking, produced by Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK), alongside the National Union of Students (NUS), the University and College Union (UCU) and People & Planet (P&P), Bath is placed in the ‘Leading the Way’ tier alongside 26 other HE institutions.

The University scored 81/100 points against various criteria, including high marks for setting a net zero target by 2040, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in that target, and including staff and student stakeholders in setting targets.

In a separate ranking Bath was placed in the top tier of UK universities by energy service Uswitch after scoring positively in three requirements to be considered a leader in sustainable energy.

The firm submitted a Freedom of Information request to 136 universities asking them about their procurement of energy, and received 105 responses in total.

Uswitch determined which UK universities are making the most moves to become less reliant on fossil fuels by looking at three things and placing them into tiers based on their responses:

  • Do they have renewable installations on campus?
  • Are there schemes in place to improve their emissions?
  • Are they on a renewable energy tariff with their supplier?

The University scored highly because it:

  • has combined heat and power (CHP) plants and recycles waste heat on-site.
  • is on a "green" energy tariff with the supplier EDF Energy.
  • has developed plans for a Climate Action Framework.

Professor Pete Walker, the University’s Climate Action Chair, said: “It’s very encouraging to see the University’s efforts in tackling our carbon emissions recognised in both of these surveys, and colleagues involved should be proud of their work in these areas. “We still of course face a very significant challenge ahead of us and within the Climate Action Framework we have deliberately set ambitious targets that will require a lot of work to achieve. However the support within the University community has been fantastic and I hope to have more to report soon on the next steps in progressing towards these goals.”