The University of Tasmania has been ranked #1 globally for Climate Action, #1 globally for Life on Land in the 2025 and #4 overall globally against all the SDGs combined in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, recognition that reflects a whole-of-university commitment to sustainability, from research and operations to education and community action.

At a time when communities, businesses and households are looking for practical ways to respond to climate change, the University of Tasmania’s latest global recognition is a powerful reminder that sustainability leadership is not only measured in policy statements or long-term targets. It is measured in the actions we take, the knowledge we share, and the skills we build across every part of society.

In the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, the University of Tasmania was ranked first in the world for SDG 13 Climate Action for the fourth consecutive year, first in the world for SDG 15 Life on Land, and fourth globally overall across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The rankings assess universities’ impact on society and the environment against the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with more than 2,500 universities from 130 countries assessed in 2025.

For the University of Tasmania, the result reflects a deep and long-running focus on sustainability, one shaped by Tasmania’s distinctive island environment, its communities, and its globally connected research. The University’s sustainability work spans climate research, education, renewable energy, carbon-neutral operations, biodiversity, sustainable land management, community engagement and student learning.

The Climate Action ranking considers a university’s research, education and operational initiatives on climate change, including climate-related research, low-carbon energy use, climate education and commitment to carbon neutrality. The University has been certified carbon neutral since 2016, divested from fossil fuel investments in 2021, and committed to reducing gross carbon emissions by a minimum of 50 per cent by 2030 from a 2015 baseline.

The Life on Land ranking recognises work in areas including sustainable forest management, biodiversity loss prevention, degraded land restoration and ecosystem conservation. Professor Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, said the recognition reflects research that “intentionally targets today’s most urgent climate-related questions” with an aim for “local and global impact.”

That connection between local action and global impact is central to the University’s approach. Tasmania is a living laboratory for many of the environmental challenges facing the world: changing climates, pressure on ecosystems, sustainable food production, bushfire risk, marine and land conservation, renewable energy transition and resilient communities. The University’s position in Tasmania allows students and researchers to engage with these questions in a place where the relationship between people and nature is immediate, visible and deeply felt.

But the transition to a more sustainable future cannot be left to scientists, policymakers or institutions alone. It also depends on people having the confidence and practical knowledge to make change in their own homes, workplaces, communities and enterprises. That is where education becomes one of the most powerful tools for climate action.

The University’s Sustainable Living study options are designed for people who want to better understand environmental challenges and take practical action. The courses focus on sustainability in everyday life, helping students build knowledge they can apply at home, in the community, in business or through social enterprise.

Offered fully online, the Diploma of Sustainable Living allows students to study in their own community while exploring practical ways to improve sustainability. The Diploma includes two core units: Communicating Sustainability and Local Lives for a Sustainable Planet, followed by electives that allow students to tailor their learning to their interests and goals. Popular study areas include Science of Gardening, Backyard Biodiversity and Living with Fire, alongside units such as Introduction to the Science of Climate Change, Responding to Climate Change, Sustainable Design for Houses and Landscapes, Global Food Security and Humans: Earth Shapers.

For many students, this kind of learning is not about changing careers overnight. It may begin with a backyard, a household, a local organisation, a small business, a school community or a personal desire to understand what meaningful climate action looks like. The value of Sustainable Living is that it connects big global challenges with practical, place-based choices.

The course is also designed to be flexible. Students can choose to study one unit at a time or take on a fuller study load, with the University advising students to plan for around 10 hours of focused study each week per unit, including lectures, tutorials, independent learning and assessments. This makes it accessible for people balancing study with work, family, volunteering or community commitments.

The broader need for green skills is growing. The University notes that industries such as manufacturing, construction, education and financial services are increasingly adopting more sustainable ways of operating, while roles such as Carbon Accountant, Impact and Sustainability Manager and Compliance Officer continue to emerge. Sustainable Living can also provide a pathway into further study, with credit available towards degrees such as the Bachelor of Science.

This matters because climate action is no longer a niche concern. It is becoming part of how we design homes, manage land, grow food, run organisations, protect biodiversity, plan for fire, reduce waste, communicate change and build resilient communities. A sustainability mindset is increasingly valuable across many industries and many everyday decisions.

The University of Tasmania’s global ranking for Climate Action and Life on Land shows what is possible when sustainability is embedded across research, teaching, operations and partnerships. Its Sustainable Living courses extend that commitment beyond the institution, giving people the opportunity to build practical skills and apply them in the places where change often begins at home, at work and in the community

For those ready to explore their role in creating a more sustainable future, Sustainable Living at the University of Tasmania offers a practical and flexible place to start.

Learn more about Sustainable Living at the University of Tasmania

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