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• Times Higher Education has announced that the University of Tasmania is ranked 5^th in the world for its performance against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals

• The University is ranked 1st in the world – for the second year running – for the specific goal of “Climate Action”

• The University is ranked 3rd in the world for the “Life below Water” goal and 4th in the world for the “Life on Land” goal

• The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are global performance tables that assess more than 1500 universities from 110 countries against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The University of Tasmania’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rufus Black, said the results showed that Tasmania can be a model for the world in how we respond to the climate emergency and broader challenges to live sustainably on our planet.

“This achievement recognises the excellence and dedication of so many of our staff and students who are deeply committed to embedding sustainability in all that we do. Their efforts are making the University of Tasmania a recognised global leader in how universities can contribute to tackling our planet’s greatest challenges.”

The University’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Corey Peterson, said the 17 Sustainable Development Goals had been adopted by all United Nations Member States to provide shared goals towards peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

“The University has worked consistently to embed sustainability in everything we do.

The climate emergency and broader environmental crisis is happening now and changes need to be made urgently.”

The University has been certified carbon neutral since 2016, divested from fossil fuel investments in 2021, has dramatically reduced embodied carbon in new buildings, and has committed to reducing gross carbon emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030.

Publications in highly ranked academic journals are critical to the rankings. Academic publications from more than 550 University of Tasmania staff contributed to the overall 5th placing, and publications from more than 140 staff contributed to the number one ranking for climate action.

The overall ranking of 5^th follows the University’s consistent progress in sustainability – it was ranked 25^th overall in 2022 and 76^th overall in 2021.