Canada and the UK Lead in Sustainability Rankings

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025 has once again highlighted the leadership of Canadian and UK universities in sustainability efforts. The University of Toronto has secured the top spot for the second consecutive year, followed closely by ETH Zurich in Switzerland and a tie for third place between Lund University in Sweden and the University of California, Berkeley.

Top Universities in Sustainability

The rankings feature several notable institutions:

• 1st: University of Toronto, Canada
• 2nd: ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• 3rd: Lund University, Sweden / University of California, Berkeley, USA
• 5th: UCL, United Kingdom / University of British Columbia, Canada
• 7th: Imperial College London / University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• 9th: University of Manchester, United Kingdom / University of Melbourne, Australia

Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, expressed pride in the university's commitment to sustainability, emphasizing its importance as a pressing global challenge.

UK Universities Shine

The UK has demonstrated remarkable performance with four universities in the top 10. UCL made a significant leap from 189th to 5th place this year. Overall, the UK boasts 26 universities in the top 100 globally and leads with the most institutions in the top 10.

Insights from QS Leadership

Ben Sowter, Vice-President at QS, noted that improvements in data sharing have allowed for a broader understanding of sustainability performance across institutions. This year’s rankings evaluated 1,744 universities from 107 countries based on three main categories:

• Environmental Impact: Focused on sustainability education and research.
• Social Impact: Assessed equality and employability outcomes.
• Governance: Evaluated ethics and transparency in decision-making.

Global Participation

The rankings have expanded significantly since their inception, with over 1,000 additional universities assessed compared to previous years. The United States leads with 239 ranked institutions, followed by Mainland China and the UK.

Regional Highlights

• Africa: Seven universities made it into the top 500; the University of Cape Town ranks highest at 45.
• Asia: Six universities from four countries are in the top 100, with Japan's University of Tokyo at 44.
• Latin America: Brazil leads with 42 universities ranked.

Student Perspectives on Sustainability

Research indicates that international students prioritize sustainability when selecting universities. The QS International Student Survey revealed that 90% consider sustainability important, with many actively researching institutions' sustainability strategies.Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, emphasized that these rankings promote transparency and encourage positive change within higher education regarding sustainability practices.For further details on the rankings and methodology, 

visit QS World University Rankings: Sustainability