York University (YorkU)

4700 Keele Street, M3J 1P3 Toronto
ontario, Canada

IAU WHED ID: IAU-021739

The IAU WHED ID Is a global unique identifier. Learn more here on the IAU World Higher Education Database.

York University

About

York University (YorkU), founded in 1959, is a dynamic, research-intensive institution rooted in values of equity, accessibility, diversity, and social innovation. With over 55,000 students and a dedicated faculty and staff exceeding 6,000, it offers a wide spectrum of programs through faculties such as Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Science, Engineering, Business, Health, Education, Law, and the Arts. York’s research strengths span sustainability and climate systems, social justice and equity, health and well-being, digital innovation, and Indigenous futures. Its modern campuses, experiential learning environments, and global partnerships support a vibrant, inclusive community engaged in addressing real-world challenges.

Sustainability at York University

YorkU has long been recognized as an international leader in sustainability-relevant research, teaching, partnerships, and campus practices. By challenging themselves to deepen this work, and to track and report on their contributions, they reaffirm their longstanding York values of social justice, equity, sustainability, and excellence in all that they do. YorkU has embedded sustainable principles in every aspect of university life. The university plans to right the future and create positive change with our whole-institution approach to sustainability.

In November of 2024, York also revised its Sustainability Strategy 2030

Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity

York University has recently launched their first university-wide Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) Strategy 2023-2028 following a broad community consultation. York is among the first of Canadian universities to incorporate decolonization in a meaningful and substantial way through a document of this kind. This strategy will formalize and coordinate DEDI efforts across the institution. 

Find YorkU's Five-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2027) here.

More Information

Find more details on sustainability at YorkU:

York University is the IAU HESD Cluster Lead University for SDG 4: Quality Education 

Actions towards sustainability for this university

News for this university

High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2025

The IAU participated in the High-Level Political Forum 2025 to advocate for the role of higher education in achieving the SDGs. IAU contributed to several key events, including the UNAI Higher Education Symposium, the HESI Global Forum, and a side event focused on SDG 8.

IAU HESD Cluster Activity Report 2023-24 published

Read the latest report on SDGs activities carried out by the IAU HESD Cluster members

Transforming Education Together: 2023 ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo

The ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo, which commenced on December 18, 2023, marked a successful gathering at the United Nations University with the presence of representatives from more than 80 countries. This year’s meeting focused on sharing the implementation and progress of the ESD-2030 national initiatives, trends, challenges and innovations within the framework of Agenda 2030 and discussing the action points for the next two years 2024-2025.

Social Impact and IAU HESD Cluster Members

IAU HESD Cluster leads Siam University, Thailand, and Beirut Arab University, Lebanon, recently presented their work with the SDGs and social impact during an online event.

Joint paper on WIA - IAU HESD Cluster on SDG 4

Read the article on "A whole-institution approach towards sustainability: a crucial aspect of higher education’s individual and collective engagement with the SDGs and beyond" with contributions from the IAU HESD Cluster (2021)

Documents of this university

Events for this university