CEDHE members recognised at the 2026 International Green Gown Awards
The Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE) is delighted to celebrate the success of its members at the 2026 International Green Gown Awards.
The International Green Gown Awards recognise, celebrate, and showcase exceptional sustainability leadership and innovation from tertiary education institutions worldwide. Since their launch in 2014, the awards have become one of the most respected international benchmarks for sustainability excellence in the education sector.
Delivered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), the awards are supported by Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS), the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), the International Association of Universities (IAU), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The awards celebrate projects that are helping to address some of the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges while sharing best practice and inspiring action across the global education community.
This year's results demonstrate the breadth of sustainability leadership across the CEDHE membership, with institutions recognised in categories spanning climate action, societal impact, nature restoration, education, and student engagement.
CEDHE Member Winners
2030 Climate Action - Lancaster University
Supercharged: Lancaster's Journey to Net Zero, recognising its ambitious and innovative approach to decarbonisation and institutional climate leadership.
Benefitting Society - University of Birmingham
Empowering Evidence-based Policy through Interdisciplinary Action, highlighting the role of interdisciplinary research in supporting public engagement and policy influence.
Nature Positive - University of St Andrews
St Andrews Nature Networks, a project demonstrating how universities can play a leading role in protecting and restoring biodiversity.
Next Generation Learning and Skills - University of Southampton
The Meliora Podcast – Advancing Sustainability Education, Research and Dissemination Across the World, showcasing collaboration between staff and students, supporting sustainability education and knowledge exchange.
Student Engagement – Loughborough University
The Climate Cup – Competing for More Than Just a Trophy, an initiative that has successfully inspired and empowered students to take meaningful climate action.
Celebrating sector leadership
The achievements of these institutions reflect the commitment, creativity, and leadership being demonstrated across the CEDHE network. From driving progress towards net zero and supporting nature recovery to engaging students and influencing policy, these award-winning initiatives showcase the vital contribution that higher education is making to a more sustainable future.
CEDHE congratulates all member institutions recognised through this year's International Green Gown Awards and thanks them for continuing to share learning, inspire collaboration, and demonstrate what is possible when sustainability is embedded across every aspect of university life. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these projects continue to grow and to celebrating further successes from across our membership in the years ahead.
Header image credit: © Oleg Breslavtsev | Adobe Stock
