The University of Toronto has been named one of the top two universities in the world for sustainability by QS World University Rankings: Sustainability - for the fourth year in a row.
The annual ranking by London-based firm Quacquarelli Symonds - which has awarded U of T the No. 1 spot twice - evaluated nearly 2,000 universities on how effectively they address urgent environmental, social and governance challenges. Sweden's Lund University moved up two spots from last year's ranking to first place. Rounding out the top five were University College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of British Columbia.
"The University of Toronto is profoundly committed to building a more sustainable world," said U of T President Melanie Woodin. "The challenges involved are complex and urgent but together we are showing that progress is possible and there is reason to hope.
"U of T's continued strength in the QS sustainability rankings is a testament to the passionate dedication of our students, faculty, librarians, staff and alumni in achieving a better future for all humanity."
Woodin pointed to several university-wide initiatives driving U of T's momentum - from its commitment to making its three campuses climate positive by 2050 and major investments in green infrastructure , to the launch of the Lawson Climate Institute and a growing range of sustainability-focused research and l earning opportunities .
"At U of T, we've transformed our three campuses into a giant 'living lab' for learning, discovery and innovation in sustainability," said Woodin.
"We have received countless requests for information and advice from universities and organizations around the world who are inspired by our example."
A strong Canadian showing
U of T led a strong showing for Canadian universities in this year's ranking. It was joined in the top five by UBC, while McGill University and Western University ranked ninth and 24th, respectively.
An offshoot of the QS World University Rankings, the sustainability ranking measures how effectively institutions are addressing the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals . This year's methodology draws on more than 50 indicators with assigned weights, grouped into three broad categories: environmental impact, social impact and governance.
U of T's performance remained strong across the board. It ranked third in the world for both environmental impact and social impact, which respectively assess sustainability-focused education and research, and institutional commitments to equality and inclusion.
Sustainability across the three campuses
U of T's performance is bolstered by major sustainability initiatives across its three campuses.
At St. George, work is underway on a multi-year shift to electric power at the central steam plant and the implementation of Canada's largest urban geoexchange system , which will reduce emissions by an estimated 17,000 tonnes.
At U of T Mississauga, Project SHIFT is completing deep energy retrofits, electrification upgrades and steam-to-hot-water conversions designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, U of T Scarborough is advancing clean-tech innovation through the Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (EaRTH), a partnership helping expand the sector in east Toronto and supporting projects such as a net-zero vertical farm.
Expanding research, teaching and influence
Guided by the President's Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS), the university is deepening its academic leadership in sustainability.
Hundreds of faculty researchers contribute to climate-focused work across more than 120 research units and interdisciplinary initiatives. Students, meanwhile, have access to more than 2,000 undergraduate courses and over 115 graduate programs with sustainability content.
One of the most significant undergraduate efforts is the Sustainability Pathways Program , which now reaches 86 per cent of students through coursework, experiential learning and campus-as-a-living-lab opportunities. This year, the program introduced a new Sustainability Leadership tier , giving students formal recognition - and up to $2,000 in awards - for taking on real-world sustainability leadership roles on and off campus.
Beyond the classroom, U of T is working closely with local, regional and internal partners to accelerate local climate action. In collaboration with the City of Toronto, the university is supporting youth engagement and climate education through TransformTO as well as the launch of a new pilot climate hub .
On the global stage, U of T plays a leading role in several international sustainability networks as a steering member of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) and member of the U7+ Alliance.
As part of this year's COP30 Action Agenda, U of T and Cambridge University, as co-conveners and founders of the Network of Networks , were together tasked with leading the higher education sector globally in developing accelerated solutions for "education, capacity-building, and job creation to address climate change."
