Sustainability News

News stories

Our sustainability research is helping to tackle some of the pressing environmental and social challenges facing the planet.
Campus looking green

University of Sheffield ranked 24th in the world for sustainability in QS rankings

The University of Sheffield has been ranked 24th globally out of more than 1,400 institutions in the 2024 QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, as well as 7th in the UK and 12th in Europe.
Dr Robert Caine in a rice field in Vietnam

Genetically modified rice could be key to tackling food shortages caused by climate change

Genetically engineering rice to have better salt tolerance could allow it to be grown in places it would otherwise fail, new research from the University of Sheffield has found.
The River Don in Sheffield city centre

Chemical pollution in Yorkshire rivers to be studied in new project

Sheffield scientists are to investigate the impact of chemical pollution in Yorkshire’s rivers as part of a £1.6m study.
An aerial view of Exeter

Greenest city centres in Great Britain revealed

A new study has revealed the greenest city centres in Great Britain.

Pine needles

Old Christmas trees could be saved from landfill to make renewable fuels

Research at the University of Sheffield and the University of Valladolid has found that pine needles from discarded Christmas trees or other sources could be turned into renewable fuels and new products.
A photo of the exterior of the University of Sheffield's Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre

World’s first net zero transatlantic flight to fly from London in 2023

The first ever 100 per cent SAF transatlantic flight will take off from the UK next year as part of a pioneering research project to fly across the pond using solely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).