Britain's greenest universities revealed

A study of higher education institutions across the UK rated them according to their use of renewable energy and recycling rates, as well as their attempts to reduce carbon output and their efforts to promote Fairtrade products.

Edinburgh Napier University was ranked top north of the Border and 13th in the UK. The University of Abertay in Dundee was among the worst, ranking 130th out of 142 universities surveyed.

The overall winner was Nottingham Trent University.

Stan Blackley, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the report demonstrated gaps in Scotland's universities' climate change action.

He said: "Scottish universities have a reputation for being leaders in research and innovation as well as in teaching so it's shameful they are not doing better."

Dr Dan Barlow, head of policy at green group WWF Scotland, welcomed Napier's success, but warned that more educational institutions needed to improve their environmental credentials.

"On cutting climate emissions the picture is clearly mixed," he said. "If the education sector is to play its part in helping Scotland meet its climate targets, then it is important that all universities up their game.

"We hope that universities that are performing well offer advice and support to those struggling to cut emissions. If they work together it should be possible for every Scottish university to eventually pass the climate test with flying colours."

The survey was carried out by People & Planet, which works with student groups to take action on world poverty and environmental issues.

The universities' scores were calculated and each given a "degree class" ranking - a first, 2:1, 2:2 or a third. Napier, St Andrews and Aberdeen universities were the only Scottish institutions to be granted a first-class award.

Napier's success was down to its strong Fairtrade campaign and its recycling rate of more than 40 per cent.It also aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2013.

Jamie Pearson, Napier's sustainability and environmental adviser, said: "Taking the top spot in Scotland recognises the real strides we have made as a university in not only improving our environmental management procedures but also significantly reducing our carbon emissions."

A spokesman for Abertay said the institution had recently introduced a range of environmental measures and said it was on track to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2016.

He added: "Unfortunately, this year's Green League came at a time when many of our policies were still being reviewed by internal committees, so we didn't get credit for them."

The report also reveals that the sector's carbon emissions have risen by 3.9 per cent since 2005 and that 63 per cent of universities are not yet on track to meet the UK government carbon reduction targets of 34 per cent cuts by 2020. The Scottish Government has its own, more ambitious target of a 42 per cent reduction by 2020.

Robin Parker, president-elect of NUS Scotland, said climate change was one of the biggest challenges which would face today's students later in life.

He said: "Given the current funding situation, it would be easy for institutions to see the sustainability agenda as a luxury - in fact, it is more important than ever."

The report also showed that 68 per cent of universities have now achieved Fairtrade status.

And Napier wants to make itself even more eco-friendly:

• Aims to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2013 (awarded Carbon Trust Standard in 2010 for cutting them 19 per cent from 2006 to 2009).

• Aims to improve building performance, and gas and electricity management.

• Recycling rate 40%.

• Travel survey conducted among staff this year to encourage use of public transport and cycling.