The UI GreenMetric is an annual international ranking of the sustainability performance of universities. Universities are given a score reflecting their efforts in reducing the ecological footprint of the university and sustainability education and research. The ranking was launched in 2010 by the University of Indonesia to promote sustainability in higher education institutions and allow comparisons between them. Since then, the number of participants has grown and the methodology has been refined based on feedback from participating universities.
Methodology and criteria Universities are asked annually between May and October to participate by filling a survey with questions about their sustainability performance. Many questions in this survey also demand uploading evidence documents to avoid cheating. The results are published in December.
Since 2014, participating universities are ranked according to the following six criteria. The points per indicator are given in brackets. +Criteria and indicators of the UI GreenMetricAbbr.CriterionWeightIndicatorsSISetting & Infrastructure15% The ratio of open space area to total area (200) Total area on campus covered in forest vegetation (100) Total area on campus covered in planted vegetation (200) Total area on campus for water absorption besides the forest and planted vegetation (100) The total open space area divided by total campus population (200) Percentage of university budget for sustainability efforts (200) Percentage of operation and maintenance activities of building during COVID-19 pandemic (100) Campus facilities for disabled, special needs and or maternity care (100) Security and safety facilities (100) Health infrastructure facilities for students, academics and administrative staff's wellbeing (100) Conservation: plant, animal and wildlife, genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in either medium or long-term conservation facilities (100)ECEnergy & Climate Change21% Energy efficient appliances usage (200) Smart building implementation (300) Number of renewable energy sources on campus (300) Total electricity usage divided by total campus' population (kWh per person) (300) The ratio of renewable energy production divided by total energy usage per year (200) Elements of green building implementation as reflected in all construction and renovation policies (200) Greenhouse gas emission reduction program (200) Total carbon footprint divided by total campus' population (metric tons per person) (200) Number of innovative program(s) during COVID-19 pandemic (100) Impactful university program(s) on climate change (100)WSWaste18% Recycling program for university's waste (300) Program to reduce the use of paper and plastic on campus (300) Organic waste treatment (300) Inorganic waste treatment (300) Toxic waste treatment (300) Sewage disposal (300)WSWater10% Water conservation program & implementation (200) Water recycling program implementation (200) Water efficient appliances usage (200) Consumption of treated water (200) Percentage of additional handwashing and sanitation facilities during COVID-19 pandemic (200)TRTransportation18% The total number of vehicles (cars and motorcycles) divided by total campus' population (200) Shuttle services (300) Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) policy on campus (200) The total number of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) divided by total campus population (200) Ratio of ground parking area to total campus' area (200) Program to limit or decrease the parking area on campus for the last 3 years (from 2018 to 2020) (200) Number of initiatives to decrease private vehicles on campus (200) Pedestrian path on campus (300)EDEducation & Research18% The ratio of sustainability courses to total courses/modules (300) The ratio of sustainability research funding towards total research funding (200) Number of scholarly publications on sustainability (200) Number of events related to sustainability (200) Number of student organizations related to sustainability (200) University-run sustainability website (200) Sustainability report (100) Number of cultural activities on campus (100) Number of university program(s) to cope with COVID-19 pandemic (100) Number of sustainability community services project organized and/or involving students (100) Number of sustainability-related startups (100)
Participants During the first ranking in 2010, 96 universities participated. The University of California, Berkeley came in first place. Since the 2010 edition, the number of participating universities grew to 1745 in 2025. +Top 10 universities in the UI GreenMetric 2021NoUniversityCountryTotal score1Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands93002University of NottinghamUnited Kingdom88503University of GroningenNetherlands88004Nottingham Trent UniversityUnited Kingdom87505University of California DavisUnited Kingdom87506Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld (Trier University of Applied Sciences)Germany87257Leiden UniversityNetherlands87008University College CorkIreland87009University of ConnecticutUnited States870010Universidade de São PauloBrazil8700 +Participants and winner of the UI GreenMetric per yearYearNumber of participantsWinnerCountry201096University of California BerkeleyUnited States2011178University of NottinghamUnited Kingdom2012215University of ConnecticutUnited States2013301University of NottinghamUnited Kingdom2014361University of NottinghamUnited Kingdom2015407University of NottinghamUnited Kingdom2016516University of California DavisUnited States2017619Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands2018719Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands2019780Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands2020912Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands2021956Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands20221050Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands20231182Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands20241476Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands20251745Wageningen University and ResearchNetherlands
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