Creating a Greener World
With over 1,500 research and education specialists focussed on solving the climate and ecological crises, the University of Exeter is highly respected internationally for the quality and impact of its work in this area. Research at Exeter takes a holistic approach to environmental challenges, working with both local communities and industry. On an international level we ensure that those most affected by these threats are supported to adapt to new climates and conditions. Crucially, we also seek to balance the socio-environmental impacts of the climate crisis to ensure that everyone has access to the resources and opportunities needed to prosper in our changing global landscape.
- We were recognised in a recent Reuters ‘Hot List’ as home to the UK’s top five most influential climate scientists, who are also the only UK climate scientists to secure places in the global top 21.
- We have been ranked 8th in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for our progress on delivering the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes being ranked 1st globally for our progress towards Clean Water and Sanitation, 8th for our progress on Climate Action and 11th globally for our progress towards Zero Hunger.
- Exeter Marine is an interdisciplinary group of leading researchers, which range form animal ecologists to blue carbon experts. They have seen recent success in the creation of Marine Protected Areas, New species identifications and development of ocean carbon capture technologies.
- Exeter leads an international community on systems thinking, developing transformative solutions to global challenges. The team produced the first Global Tipping Points Report, released during COP28.
We bring together excellence in science, engineering, economics and business to help create a sustainable future world through transformative research, education and engagement. Our researchers play an active role across our interdisciplinary Research Institutes - Environment and Sustainability Institute, Global Systems Institute, Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Living Systems Institute.
Key Achievements
Thriving oceans
We were instrumental in the movement to help create a global network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), known as the 30x30 campaign, which ultimately led to the creation of the United Nations High Seas Treaty earlier this year. With only 2.7% of the ocean currently classified as a highly protected zone, the High Seas Treaty is an agreement between governments and world leaders to increase the level of protection for marine environments to preserve life on Earth. More broadly, over the last decade we’ve helped to create 495,000 km2 of MPAs, - equivalent to 70 million football pitches, in Ascension Island, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast and are continually working to build the evidence needed to underpin transformational changes in environmental policy. Specifically, our work with Gabon Bleu has played a significant role in creating nine new national parks and 11 aquatic reserves covering 56,000km².
Healthier Oceans
We have one of the world’s largest marine science teams: a group that includes researchers recognised in the top 1% of their field, all of whom are dedicated to addressing and overcoming the threats our planet faces. Our researchers specialise in marine conservation, ecotoxicology, marine governance, ocean systems and technology and are interdisciplinary in their approach, working closely with medical colleagues and partners from a variety of organisations. The focus is not only on the problems we are facing in our oceans, but around actively seeking ways to make things better and having a long-term impact.
