About U of T Sustainability
Universities have a crucial and unique role to play in helping to meet the global challenges of sustainability and the University of Toronto is a world leader in this effort. In fact, U of T has been recognized as the most sustainable university in the world for the last two years in a row, based on a global ranking of more than 1700 institutions.
Sustainability is not just something we teach and study…
it’s what we do.
Almost 200 years on, U of T’s foundational commitments to a transformative education and innovative research have been enhanced by a deepening focus and expertise in advancing sustainability – both within the institution and beyond – to help create a more sustainable future for our local community, Canada and the world.
From teaching and learning to research, operations and partnerships, discover who we are and how we’re weaving sustainability into every aspect of university life across our campuses.
A Message from the President
U of T faculty, staff, students and alumni are advancing sustainability in our classrooms, labs, cities and our world. They bring their big ideas, unique energy and global leadership to bear in a myriad of ways, acting on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and addressing urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Sustainability is reflected not only in rankings, which we take great pride in, but in who we are and in our identity as an institution.
Rooted in purpose and driven by boundless potential, the U of T community is defining what’s possible when people work together and helping create a more sustainable future.
– U of T President Melanie A. Woodin
QS Sustainability Rankings
In 2024 and 2025, the University of Toronto was named the world’s most sustainable university by the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
The ranking, conducted by London-based firm Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluates universities on their ability to tackle pressing environmental, social and governance challenges and their outward impacts, with U of T earning the top spot in 2025 out of 1744 universities, including 350 new entrants, from more than 100 locations.
The President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS)
With its institution-wide mandate, CECCS and its subcommittees guide the strategic direction of U of T’s award-winning sustainability pursuits and help advance the university’s goals in integrated operational and academic sustainability.
Teaching & Learning
Sustainability education is delivered through hundreds of courses, co-curricular activities and experiential learning opportunities, equipping students with the skills and training to become agents of change.
Research
Academics at U of T conduct world-class research across all fields, including climate change and sustainability, with sustainable research methods, practices and policies informing their impactful work.
Operations
Through operational improvements and innovations developed and tested at U of T, our campuses and campus activities contribute directly to sustainability outcomes – all while staying on target to become climate positive by 2050.
Student Leadership
U of T students are the next generation of sustainability leaders, driving positive change on campus and in the community.
Partnerships
Our work with community, government and industry partners is helping to champion sustainable ideas, causes and initiatives, while inspiring collective action.
Regenerative Sustainability
U of T embraces and promotes the concept of regenerative sustainability, which looks for net positive ways to increase both human and environmental well-being, instead of simply focusing on reducing environmental harm.
We understand sustainability in wide terms and are committed to applying our assets and expertise at the many intersections of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This 360-degree view gives us a leading perspective among post-secondary institutions in realizing a comprehensive, holistic and emergent vision of sustainability across social, economic and environmental spheres.
Integration of Operational and Academic Sustainability
A whole institution approach of sustainability involves marshalling the university’s competencies and resources on both the academic (e.g. teaching and research) and operational sides (e.g. facilities management). At U of T, the integration of operational and academic sustainability is not only a cross-cutting principle informing what we do in service of sustainability, but a fundamental aspect of how we enact change, including by embedding sustainability action into the fabric and identity of the institution for the benefit of current and future generations.
Read more about our approach in this article (PDF) published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Major Sustainability Initiatives
Climate Positive Plan
Through a fully costed plan that includes Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system, U of T’s downtown campus will become climate positive by 2050 with similar commitments for the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses. This game-changing goal will mean U of T reduces more greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere than we emit, going beyond net zero to create a net positive benefit in our community.
Sustainability Pathways Program
Created by CECCS, the Sustainability Pathways Program is comprised of clusters of courses and co-curricular activities that allow undergraduate students from any major to integrate sustainability learning into their degree – while building interdisciplinary, cross-cutting skills.
Campus as a Living Lab and Experiential Learning for Sustainability
Both on and off campus, students tackle real-world sustainability challenges, co-developing social, economic and ecological solutions in collaboration with faculty, staff and external partners.
Fossil Fuel Divestment
U of T’s investment manager, University of Toronto Asset Management Corporation (UTAM), is committed to divesting from fossil fuel companies by 2030 or sooner, achieving net zero carbon emissions associated with the endowment portfolio by 2050 and is allocating 10 per cent of the endowment portfolio to sustainable and low-carbon investments by 2025.
U of T’s Global Brand
Sustainability is a core part of the U of T’s global brand — reflecting our values, priorities and leadership on the world stage.
Aligning sustainability communications with U of T’s brand ensures we tell our story with a clear, consistent and unified voice.