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²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Leicester (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) is among the world’s best performing universities in helping to promote three of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ was listed as =57^th for SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, and =61^st for both SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13 Climate Action.

The ratings come from the Times Higher Education’s (THE) Impact Rankings, which is the only measure of a university’s performance in the SDGs. More than 2,500 universities were ranked in the 2025 awards.

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has now had a total of 33 listings in the world top 100 for its performance in the SDGs since the rankings were established in 2019.

The 2025 rankings saw the university rise 37 places from 98^th to =37^th for SDG 11, which rates the university’s performance on research into sustainable cities, support of arts and heritage, public access to its facilities and sustainable practices in areas such as commuting.

The world top 100 ranking comes after the university was made the global academic hub chair for SDG 11 by the United Nations Academic Impact earlier this year - the only UK university to be named as a hub chair for one of the SDGs.

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has also been named by People and Planet as the second most environmentally friendly university in the country, winning a first-class degree for the 13^th consecutive year in the annual  in recognition of its environmental and ethical performance.

In SDG 12, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ rose 11 places from 68^th to 57^th for a goal that measures research into responsible production and consumption as well as recycling rates, reductions in waste and minimising the use of plastic.

There was a rise of 12 places from 73^rd to 61^st in the world in SDG 13, where the university’s work on research into climate change, use of low carbon energy, environmental education and planning for climate change are measured.

The Pro Vice Chancellor for Sustainability, Professor Simon Oldroyd, said: “It is so pleasing to see our work in the SDGs recognised with these rankings in the world top 100.

“The university made sustainability a key part of its long-term Empowerment Strategy and the SDGs were a cross-cutting theme. This work is clearly showing through in these rankings.”

Dr Mark Charlton, the head of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s SDG Impact Hub, added: “To have three SDGs in the world top 100 is an impressive achievement and credit goes to a large number of people across the university who have made this possible.

“SDG 11 has now featured in the world top 100 every year since the THE Impact Rankings were founded in 2019 and gives added impetus to our work as the global academic hub chair for the coming years.”