The University of Waterloo ranks fourth in Canada and 42nd globally on the QS World University Ranking: Sustainability.

This is the first time that QS has published a global ranking on sustainability and has evaluated 700 institutions on environmental and social impact indicators. The ranking joins a growing list of international higher-education sector efforts to understand how universities impact some of the most prominent and intersectional ecological and societal challenges.

“I am pleased to see Waterloo well represented on this new sustainability ranking amongst our Canadian and global peers,” says Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “Today, much of the teaching, inquiry, and outreach taking place through our faculties and research centres and institutes on our campuses focus on understanding and contributing to our sustainable future and the connections between a sustainable environment and society.”

Waterloo’s commitment to sustainability is outlined in the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and is built around three mutually reinforcing and interdependent goals: to be a leader in sustainability education and research, to operate the campus sustainably, and to embed sustainability practices into campus culture.

Sustainability is embedded across many areas of the University’s teaching and research. With more than 500 courses related to sustainability and 485 faculty members conducting research that advances the global Sustainable Development Goals, Waterloo is actively developing a sustainable future.

Waterloo shares the fourth-place spot with McGill University. To view the complete list or learn more, visit the QS World University Ranking: Sustainability announcement.