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Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

We’re one of the world’s leading universities for addressing the most pressing environmental, social and governance challenges society faces today.
34th
in the THE Impact Rankings 2025
3 years in a row
consecutive improvement
5th in the world
for SDG15: Life on Land
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World top 40 for sustainability

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities on delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are among the most prestigious global university rankings.

In the THE Impact Rankings 2025, we’re ranked 34th – our highest ever ranking, our third consecutive improvement, and the biggest year-on-year improvement of any UK university. We ranked fifth in the world for SDG15: Life on Land; sixth for SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and joint 17th for SDG13: Climate Action. In addition, we were placed 31st for SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and 36th for SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

We’re always developing new ways of thinking to shape a better future for our planet. Our research strengths in energy span all four of our faculties and sustainability is embedded across our teaching and learning.

We’re making great strides in reducing our own carbon footprint and have ambitious targets to achieve net zero carbon by 2035 and a biodiversity net gain by 2032.

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Joint 94th in the QS World University Rankings 2026
22nd for Sustainability in the QS World University Rankings 2026
Top 5 in UK University Rankings
Top 100 in the world for 12 of the 17 SDGs

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Student Blog: Why I chose to study an MA in Environmental Humanities 

In this blog, Environmental Humanities student Lucy writes about her experience as a master's student at Durham and why she chose this field of study.

Read Lucy's blog

Explore Durham

Find out more

We are committed to taking action on the major Environment, Social and Governance challenges facing the world today, pursuing research to shape a better future and helping our students become tomorrow's world-changers. Find out more about how we're contributing to environmental, social and economic sustainability below.

  • Discover our Botanic Garden

    Set amongst beautiful mature woodlands, the Botanic Garden is a central part of our conservation and biodiversity initiatives, as well as providing a wide variety of landscapes for visitors to explore.
    A woman with short hair and a dark green sweatshirt looks to somebody off camera as she prunes a green trailing plant. She is surrounded by green plants inside a large greenhouse.

  • Join our Greenspace Movement

    The Greenspace Movement brings together our environmental initiatives and activities in one place - find out how you can get involved.
    A group of people dressed casually, walk outside as part of a guided nature walk around the estate.

Discover our Botanic Garden

Set amongst beautiful mature woodlands, the Botanic Garden is a central part of our conservation and biodiversity initiatives, as well as providing a wide variety of landscapes for visitors to explore.
A woman with short hair and a dark green sweatshirt looks to somebody off camera as she prunes a green trailing plant. She is surrounded by green plants inside a large greenhouse.

Join our Greenspace Movement

The Greenspace Movement brings together our environmental initiatives and activities in one place - find out how you can get involved.
A group of people dressed casually, walk outside as part of a guided nature walk around the estate.
Explore our Biodiversity Strategy
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Why 1.5 degrees warming is still too high

Professor Chris Stokes, from our Department of Geography, explains why the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming cap of the Paris Climate Agreement is still too much for polar ice sheets and sea level rise. 

Read more about Prof Chris Stokes’ research

Latest News

Find out more about how we're leading on revolutionary research, offering inspiration and reaching new heights.

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