'Leading the way': B.C. university ranked one of the best in the world for sustainability
The University of British Columbia continues to score among the best in the world in an annual set of university rankings, though it trails behind an Ontario post-secondary institution for the top spot in Canada.
This week, global higher education experts QS Quacquarelli Symonds released the fourth edition of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 are out now! @lunduniversity based in Sweden takes the number one spot this year, rising from being ranked joint 3rd in 2025.
Visit https://t.co/SbFfNxCERD to see the full ranking. #QSSustainability #QSWUR pic.twitter.com/z0pDItRaXu
— QS World University Rankings (@worlduniranking) November 18, 2025
UBC scored as the world’s fifth most sustainable university for 2026, the same rank as 2025.
The University of Toronto continues to dominate the list, claiming the second worldwide spot in sustainability.
Montreal’s McGill University also cracked the top 10, coming in ninth in the global ranking.
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According to QS, its rankings showcase the “world’s universities (that) are leading the way in social and environmental sustainability.”
“The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability provides students with a unique lens on which institutions are demonstrating a commitment to a more sustainable existence,” explained QS Quacquarelli Symonds online.
“More than just the commitment, it looks for outward evidence of this – from the impact that alumni are making in science and technology to solve climate issues, to the impact of research being done across the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
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QS World University Rankings: Sustainability considered over 2,000 world universities from over 100 locations. The institutions evaluated the social and environmental impact of the schools from the perspective of them being an education and research hub, as well as a major employer with operational sustainability challenges.
UBC scored 90.5 on environmental sustainability, 98.7 for its environmental education, and 97.8 for environmental research.
Canada is the only country to have two institutions named to the top five.
Check out the full QS World University Rankings: Sustainability list online.