York University (YorkU)
4700 Keele Street, M3J 1P3 Toronto
ontario, Canada
The IAU WHED ID Is a global unique identifier. Learn more here on the IAU World Higher Education Database.

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:
- UN SDGs at YorkU
- York University's page on History of ESD
York University is the IAU HESD Cluster Lead University for SDG 4: Quality Education