• Charles Sturt secures strong global sustainability rating, ranking highly across United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Charles Sturt’s research, teaching and partnerships are driving meaningful sustainability results, as highlighted in the University’s 2025 SDG Report

Charles Sturt University’s standing as one of Australia’s leading universities for sustainability has been confirmed in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings.

Charles Sturt maintained its overall position in the top 200 of 1,603 universities which participate in the ratings, which are a highly regarded framework for evaluating universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals.

Charles Sturt performed strongly in several priority SDGs, including:

• SDG 5 Gender Equality - ranked 24th in the world (top 2 per cent)
• SDG 13 Climate Action - ranked 25th in the world (top 3 per cent)
• SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities - ranked 80th in the world (top 9 per cent)
• SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions - ranked 89th in the world (top 10 per cent)

Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon said the results reflect the University’s unwavering commitment to sustainability.

“As Australia’s leading regional university, Charles Sturt takes very seriously its responsibility to ensure our work protects the environment for future generations,” Professor Leon said.

“These results show that our approach to research, teaching and sustainability programs is delivering meaningful outcomes that do just that.”

Charles Sturt ranked in the top 30 per cent for 14 of the 17 SDGs assessed, including Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities and Life on Land.

The University also achieved a strong result in Partnerships for the Goals, ranking in the top 200.

Professor Leon said the University’s outstanding THE rankings are the product of research, teaching and operations which have sustainability at their core.

“Our researchers are tackling complex environmental challenges and our educators are preparing environmental science graduates who are ready to make a difference,” Professor Leon said.

“We were Australia's first certified climate neutral university, and we continue to roll out initiatives relating to energy, waste, travel and procurement that reduce our upfront carbon footprint.”

The University’s 2025 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlights the University’s many sustainability programs across teaching, research, operations and community engagement.

Projects in the report include:

• The Living Hot project: a research initiative focused on climate change adaptation and resilience, led by Professor Clive Hamilton, AM
• The Cool Soil Initiative: a not-for-profit organisation based at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga that recognises climate smart practices, identifies opportunities to lift yield and soil health, and provides trusted emissions intensity reporting.
• Sustainable African Rivers Initiative: based at Charles Sturt in Albury, SARI specialises in sustainable water resources management, aquatic ecology, fisheries, ecotoxicology, ecological risk assessments, ecosystem services and social research in sub-Saharan Africa

Professor Leon said the scope and impact of the projects outlined in the report is a testament to the effort of staff, students and partners.

“In collaboration with First Nations people, our communities, industry partners, government and our other stakeholders, Charles Sturt is proud to deliver practical leadership in sustainability which matters for our regions, for the nation and for the world,” Professor Leon said.