University of Gothenburg makes an impressive climb in Sustainability Rankings, rising from 73rd to 36th globally

For the indicator measuring overall Environmental Sustainability, the University achieves an even higher position, securing 10th place worldwide. Among Swedish institutions, Lund University ranks the highest at 3rd globally, followed by Uppsala University at 26th and the University of Gothenburg at 36th.

“It’s encouraging that GU is climbing in the rankings, reflecting our long-term commitment to sustainability issues. Being among the top three in Sweden is proof that we are on the right track,” says Eddi Omrcen, Head of Sustainability at the University of Gothenburg.

However, the ranking methodology has drawn criticism from Magnus MacHale-Gunnarsson, an analyst at the University of Gothenburg, who has studied the results in detail.

“It’s hard to take this ranking very seriously. The results are presented only in broad categories, making it difficult to understand the reasons behind the placements. For example, it’s unclear why Lund University is in third place while Stockholm University is ranked 293rd,” he says. At the same time, he emphasizes the ranking’s potential to highlight important aspects of sustainability work.

“It provides us with an opportunity to showcase all the ongoing efforts related to sustainable development at the University of Gothenburg,” adds MacHale-Gunnarsson.