The Sustainability Office reports on a banner year
With the University of Toronto having recently been named the world’s most sustainable university, it should come as no surprise that a dedicated team works hard to embed sustainability into all facets of life on the St. George campus.
Formed over 15 years ago, the Sustainability Office (SO) aims to support and empower U of T’s students, faculty, and staff as sustainable change agents, providing opportunities to get them involved while paving the way as a leader in sustainability for other organizations.
From student programs and interactive events to large-scale capital projects, 2023 was a banner year for the SO. Their newly released annual report details their sustainability successes—check out the highlights below, including how to get involved and how you can win a sustainability prize pack!
We’re #1!
U of T was named the most sustainable university in the world in the QS World Rankings, coming out on the top of a list of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations.
The rankings’ methodology evaluates social and environmental impact, as well as governance and leadership. This auspicious honour is a testament to our commitment to sustainable practices and initiatives—and represents a milestone in U of T’s ongoing commitment to be a global leader in this space.
A giant leap forward
The launch of Project Leap—a $138-million infrastructure initiative—marks a major milestone in cutting campus scope 1 and 2 emissions in half by 2027.
This project includes replacing a natural gas boiler with electric, conducting deep retrofits, modernizing the district energy system, and connecting to our urban geoexchange system.
Greenest in the game
In 2023, U of T was selected as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers!
The University was recognized for its leadership in sustainable building design across all three campuses. From the new Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory (researching the performance of green roofs, green walls, and solar photovoltaic technologies) to the ongoing construction of Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system beneath King’s College Circle, U of T is making waves beyond our educational prestige.
U of T also received recognition for its emphasis on sustainable transit options for students, staff, and faculty as well as Food Services’ waste reduction and sustainable food sourcing efforts.
Student ambassadors join the ranks
In 2023, the SO launched a new program dedicated to helping U of T students get more involved in sustainability efforts on campus. The Student Sustainable Ambassadors program is off to a strong start with ten new volunteers actively hosting booths, assisting with waste sorting, and promoting sustainability events on campus.
Certifications galore
The SO’s Sustainable Change Programs educate, engage, and empower the U of T community to actively follow sustainable practices in offices, residences, event planning, labs, and courses across campus. In 2023, 283 online certifications were completed. Over 100 events with a cumulative 50,000 attendees and 21 labs with 298 staff were certified.
Explore the report, get involved, enter to win
The SO has just rolled out their 2023 annual report so there’s never been a better time to check in on the many transformative initiatives, programs, and projects. Get inspired by all the amazing work happening and find out how you can be a part of this positive change, including entering the Annual Report Scavenger Hunt giveaway.