StudyNetZero seeks to connect students with universities, business schools and high schools that are “actively tackling” climate change.
According to those behind the project, the launch comes at a time when prospective students are increasingly viewing sustainability practices with more importance.
“[Today’s generation is] looking for universities that share their values and are actively working towards a sustainable future,” said Sebastian Fernandes, founder of StudyNetZero.
“A future under threat is driving [them] to prioritise sustainability in all their choices, including their universities.”
The website – offering a search tool, articles and other resources – has a long-term goal of addressing the “climate crisis by pushing institutions to lead by example and inspire all future leaders”, Fernandes continued.
StudyNetZero cited surveys from both QS and The Princeton Review that show that 79% of prospective students view an institution’s sustainability practices as extremely or very important and 74% of students say an institution’s environmental commitment would affect their decision, respectively.
With the year 2023 recorded as the hottest year to date by the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service, it also highlighted that 41% of prospective students have actively researched universities’ environmental sustainability strategies or efforts.
However, only 1% of the globe’s education institutions “lead by example” when fighting the climate emergency, it said.
The search tool currently features 526 institutions that meet the website’s criteria, StudyNetZero added.
The colleges, universities, business, high and languages schools it features are either already carbon neutral or have “clear and consistent” plans to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
It also aims to call out any greenwashing efforts from institutions.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and changemakers, and we need the entire sector to lead by example,” Fernandes concluded.