The league is the UK’s only comprehensive and independent ranking of universities by ethical and green criteria and is published by the Guardian.

Bill Rammell Vice Chancellor at the University said: “The University is delighted with this award. It is great to see that the commitment we have put in to tackling sustainability here at the University of Bedfordshire has been recognised.

“We aim to lead by example embedding our commitment to sustainability in our policies, strategies and procedures. Our position of 14^th out of almost 150 universities countrywide is one in which all our staff and students can take pride in.”

The University has seen its league place rise dramatically over recent years. It started at 124^th back in 2009 rising to 20^th last year. Today’s announcement that the University has risen to 14^th place means the University is placed ahead of those institutions who often lead the way into environmental research.

Adam Higgin is Head of Environmental Sustainability and has led the University’s ‘greening of the campus’ strategy for the last five years. From recycling to Cycle-2-Work to rainwater harvesting Adam has left no stone unturned when it comes to tackling climate change.

The Green League also judges new buildings and this is another area where Adam has aimed high, seeking a BREEAM rating of excellent for all new campus buildings.

The Gateway, the new teaching and learning building at the Bedford campus, employs a whole range of green initiatives; while the new Luton library due to open in January 2016 – 7,400 sq ft set out over seven storeys –heating and hot water needs will be met by services shared with the Campus Centre and the Business School, resulting in much lower costs for the University and more space available for learning resources.

However ‘greening the campus’ is a constantly evolving processing. “It’s not just a case of us as a University setting a policy; the whole University community needs to buy in with sustainability embedded into our culture,” said Adam.

Part of that process has included involvement from Beds SU with its Bedfordshire Green Hub and a curriculum review process to include sustainability across all courses over the five year review period. In addition sustainability is a mandatory part of the staff induction process, while a bio-diversity policy has been introduced to help increase the bio-diversity of the campuses and the surrounding area.

Most importantly all of these actions have resulted in a reduction of the University’s carbon emissions, with it set to meet its target of a 48% reduction in emissions by 2020 from a 2005 baseline.