Universities in England have achieved their best year-on-year reduction in carbon emissions, research has found.
The study, carried out by sustainability consultancy Brite Green, has found that carbon emissions from universities in England fell by 7 per cent in the past year compared with 10 per cent over the previous 10 years.
Brite Green ranked the universities in England according to the percentage by which they have reduced their carbon emissions since 2005.
London Metropolitan University took the top spot having reduced its carbon emissions by 57 per cent since 2005. Other universities that have seen an impressive reduction include the University of Cumbria, Soas, University of London, and the University of Salford.
The consultancy also ranked universities that have increased their emissions. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance topped the list having increased its carbon emissions by 111.45 per cent in the same time period.
Fourteen universities were found to have increased their carbon emissions since 2005. These included Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Derby, the University of Worcester and the University of Chester.
However, the sector had set a target to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2020 and the research revealed that there is still a long way to go before that will be achieved. If emissions continue to fall at their current rate, there will only be a sector-wide reduction of 23 per cent by 2020.
Of the 127 universities that were included in the analysis, only 52 institutions are expected to meet or exceed their carbon reduction targets by 2020.
Top 10 best performers for reducing carbon emissions
| Rank | University | Percentage change from 2005 to 2015-16 |
| 1 | London Metropolitan University | -57.17 per cent |
| 2 | University of Cumbria | -56.23 per cent |
| 3 | Soas, University of London | -55.71 per cent |
| 4 | University of Salford | -52.04 per cent |
| 5 | University of Reading | -50.64 per cent |
| 6 | Staffordshire University | -48.17 per cent |
| 7 | Bucks New University | -48.14 per cent |
| 8 | City, University of London | -44.52 per cent |
| 9 | London South Bank University | -43.75 per cent |
| 10 | Writtle University College | -41.83 per cent |
Top 10 worst performers for reducing carbon emissions
| Rank | University | Percentage change from 2005 to 2015-16 |
| 1 | Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance | +111.45 per cent |
| 2 | University of Chester | +64.14 per cent |
| 3 | University of Bolton | +51.52 per cent |
| 4 | Edge Hill University | +28.22 per cent |
| 5 | University of Worcester | +23.61 per cent |
| 6 | University of Derby | +17.40 per cent |
| 7 | University of the West of England | +8.89 per cent |
| 8 | Guildhall School of Music and Drama | +7.12 per cent |
| 9 | Royal Veterinary College | +3.12 per cent |
| 10 | Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts | +2.25 per cent |
Click here to view the full league tables
Read more: are universities failing their students on fossil fuel issues?
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