By Ava Waugh
QS World University Rankings for Sustainability has ranked the LSE number two in the world and number one in the UK in the “Sustainable Institutions” category with a score of 99.7 out of 100.
“Sustainable Institutions” is one of eight categories evaluating the LSE’s operations, commitment to sustainability, and evidence of strong governance to enact change.
Julian Robinson, Director of Estates at the LSE commented, “To score so highly for ‘Sustainable Institutions’ is a great achievement for us and a reminder that our work to embed a culture of sustainability throughout our campus operations, teaching and learning and engagement activities [are] having a tangible impact.”
This ranking is one of many sustainability-related accolades LSE has received in the past few years. In 2021, LSE was established as the first UK university to be carbon neutral for the 2020/2021 school year.
Sophie Trott, LSESU’s new Ethics and Environment officer, said, “I also think that’s important that we aren’t too self-congratulatory and that we centre this within a wider context of global environmental degradation. As students, we need to hold LSE management accountable for greenwashing and push for divestment across the university sector”.
The topic of divestment has been at the forefront of many discussions surrounding LSE’s sustainability in recent years. On October 27. 100 UK universities, including Cambridge, Oxford, and Edinburgh, released an announcement pledging to divest from fossil fuel was released.
Eva Pastora, a postgraduate Media and Communications student, highlighted the importance of understanding the measurements used in such ranking systems. Pastora, who worked for the United Nations Development Programme in Indonesia for three years, also acknowledges that how students perceive sustainability is critical, as it “is an important factor and indicator to their awareness.”
Moving forward, LSE’s Sustainability Strategic Plan details ways in which the university can better address climate change and become a leader in global environmental responsibility.
LSE Director Minouche Shafik commented, “LSE was founded for the betterment of society and our commitment to acting sustainably and responsibly is central to who we are. We will continue to drive meaningful change and contribute to shaping a more sustainable world.”
