York has fast-tracked its climate goals, deepened its commitment to equity and expanded global partnerships – key highlights in the University’s 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report titled Positive Change for a Sustainable Future.
"This report is a powerful reflection of our institution’s shared commitment to a better future – showcasing the incredible work happening across operations, curriculum and research," says Alice Hovorka, Chair of York's Sustainability Taskforce and dean of the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change. "It represents a remarkable collective effort, and yet it’s only a snapshot of the ongoing, deeply embedded sustainability work taking place every day across our community."
York has accelerated its net-zero emissions target by a full decade, now aiming for 2040. In a major step forward, the University became the first post-secondary institution in Ontario to deploy electric buses, enhancing sustainable transportation between campuses.
The University also launched a new sustainability strategy in November 2024. Shaped by broad community consultation, Positive Change: Connecting People, Planet and Purpose outlines specific, measurable actions to embed sustainability across York’s operations and culture.
York earned gold accreditation from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE's) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, placing it among an elite group of institutions demonstrating leadership in sustainability.
AASHE also designated York as a Centre for Sustainability Across the Curriculum for its SDGs-in-the-Classroom Toolkit – a resource developed to help educators embed SDGs into their teaching.
Progress on SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth is reflected in 70 per cent of undergrad programs offering a co-op option, connecting students with real-world learning opportunities.
York’s global impact continues to grow; the University ranked among the top 35 institutions worldwide in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
Research excellence at York is underscored by $120.4 million in externally sponsored funding and $47 million in tri-council research grants. Additionally, more than 59 per cent of York’s research publications were co-authored internationally, reflecting the University’s global reach and collaborative efforts.
During the 2024-25 academic year, York earned the Living Campus certification from World Wildlife Fund Canada and was also selected from over 1,700 United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) member institutions as the UNAI Hub Chair for Sustainable Development Goal 10 – Reducing Inequality.
The report also highlights the launch of York’s first well-being strategy and its signing of the Okanagan Charter, reinforcing its commitment to health and wellness.
York introduced Canada’s first PhD in disaster and emergency management, along with new micro-credentials in biotechnology and vaccine production – advancing innovation for healthier communities.
The 2025 report demonstrates York’s leadership in sustainability through a comprehensive, whole-institution strategy. This approach fully integrates the SDGs across campus operations, academic curricula and research priorities, transforming the University into a living lab to test and implement tangible solutions.