McGill is among the world’s top-performing universities when it comes to integrating sustainability into its practices and research, according to rankings published Tuesday.
The University ranked 8th overall among 189 doctoral institutions considered.
As well, out of 355 colleges and universities, McGill was tied for 1st in Research; placed 2nd for Purchasing; tied for 4th in Co-ordination and Planning; and placed 7th for Diversity and Affordability.
“We are thankful to our McGill community for their efforts in sustainability. Collectively, we are transforming McGill into a world leader in sustainability,” said François Miller, Executive Director of Sustainability.
McGill was one of three Quebec universities, along with Université de Sherbrooke and Université Laval, that ranked in the Top 10 overall among doctoral institutions.
Other Quebec institutions that were ranked in the Top 10 in at least one category were HEC Montréal, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Polytechnique Montréal; Université de Montréal and Université TÉLUQ.
The rankings were published Sept. 10 by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in its annual Sustainable Campus Index.
AASHE evaluates colleges and universities through its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), and includes those with a STARS ranking in its Sustainable Campus Index.
McGill, Université de Sherbrooke and Université Laval all hold STARS Platinum ratings. McGill reached that level in March 2024, six years ahead of its original target.
Purchasing
McGill’s high ranking in the Purchasing category – top doctoral institution and second overall, up from third last year – is due to its efforts to source its purchases sustainably.
The vast majority of the University’s institutional purchases of electronics and cleaning products are third party-certified under the EPEAT and Ecologo certifications, while all uPrint paper is 100% post-consumer recycled.
As well, in Spring 2023, Procurement Services released a revised Supplier Code of Conduct in collaboration with other Quebec universities.
“Increasingly, sustainable procurement is part of how we do business at the University. Procurement Services works in partnership with the McGill Office of Sustainability: they identify the institutional goals and we imagine ways to integrate these objectives with our suppliers,” said François Pouliot, Director of Procurement Services.
Research
Integrating sustainability topics into research is another category in which McGill scored highly. More than 80 per cent of departments include sustainability topics in their research.
Support for student sustainability research is offered through the Bieler School of Environment Undergraduate Research Awards and the McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI) funding programs for graduate students. Support for faculty sustainability research is also offered through the Bieler School of Environment and through MSSI funding programs.
The full Sustainable Campus Index report is publicly available.