Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has been ranked 46th greenest campus in the world, according to a study conducted by the Green Metric organization that compares universities on their degree of commitment to environmental education and implementation of sustainable policies. Thousands of institutions and associations across the globe applied to be graded in the list of 200, and BGU was the only Israeli university to be included.

“The BGU administration and staff have taken on the responsibility of public and environmental action,” said Prof. Dan Blumberg, Deputy Vice-President and Dean of R & D, and the Chairperson of BGU’s Green Council. “The University is extremely active in this field, indeed it is felt all levels of campus activity campus including among others: research, teaching ‘green activities’ and social involvement in the community.”

The Green Metric Ranking of World Universities was established in April 2010 in order to provide a way of comparing the commitment of universities towards going green and promoting sustainable operation. The ranking factored in the location, amount of green space, electrical consumption, waste management, as well as policies, actions, and communication related to sustainability. It is hoped that the rankings will help to promote awareness in institutions of higher education of the value of putting in place policies and systems that will have a positive impact on global warming and climate change, particularly those that help reduce carbon emissions through efficient energy use, and alternative forms of transport, greening the campus and waste recycling.

“Social change doesn’t just happen,” said Blumberg. “People make it happen.”