Queen's has climbed to 4th in the world in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings, rising from 6th place last year and placing among the top institutions in a field of more than 1,600 universities worldwide.

Queen's also remains Canada's highest-rated university, becoming the first institution in the country to hold the national top spot for two consecutive years.

Announced today at the Times Higher Education Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta, Indonesia, the results mark Queen's sixth straight year in the global top 10, a distinction unmatched by any Canadian institution since the ratings began in 2019.

“Participating in the Impact Ratings has helped Queen’s articulate and expand the ways we contribute to the global good,” says Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “The Sustainable Development Goals that underpin these rankings align closely with the Queen’s Bicentennial Vision, which calls on our university community to be a catalyst for positive change through research, innovation, and collaboration, preparing students to lead and address the world’s most complex challenges. This recognition is not just about our position in the rankings, but about highlighting and strengthening the work being done at Queen’s to build a more sustainable and equitable future.”

The Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings (formerly the Impact Rankings) assess how universities contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global framework of 17 goals aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, and improving quality of life around the world.  

With representation from over 50 departments, centres, and administrative units, the university’s 2026 submission highlighted more than 200 examples of research, teaching, partnerships, and community initiatives and helped position Queen's as a global leader in areas including food security, sustainable communities, and strong institutions.

Feeding a growing world

1st in the world for SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Queen's is helping build more sustainable food systems through research, innovation, and hands-on learning. Examples include:

The Queen's Phytotron brings researchers and food producers together to develop crops and plant varieties that support sustainable agriculture and regional food systems.

The BENEFIT Project is a Genome Canada funded program co-led at Queen’s that brings together researchers from across the country aiming to develop bio-inoculants to improve crop growth. The project draws on the potential of local soils to support cereal, brassica, and legume production.  

To help the campus community make climate-friendly food choices, Queen’s launched Coolfood Meals which identifies meals sold at campus food outlets that are both nutritious and Low Carbon Certified as determined by the World Resources Institute.

Building more sustainable communities

2nd in the world for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Queen's is helping communities become more sustainable and resilient through research, technology, and environmental stewardship. Examples include:

Queen’s graduate students in the CAESAR (Computing at Extreme Scale Advanced Research) Lab are helping make supercomputing more sustainable by developing new ways to measure and reduce the environmental impact of data centres.

For more than 75 years, the Queen's University Biological Station, one of Canada's premier field research stations, has connected teaching, research, and environmental stewardship to help protect biodiversity and support more sustainable communities.

Supported by major donor and government investments, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre expansion will create Canada's largest university-affiliated art museum and strengthen the region's cultural landscape by expanding opportunities for learning, research, and community engagement.

Creating a safer, more just global society

7th in the world for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Queen's is contributing research and expertise that support stronger institutions, informed policy, and global security. Examples include:

For 50 years, the Queen's Centre for International and Defence Policy has brought together researchers, students, policymakers, and military leaders to help shape defence and security policy in Canada and around the world.

The Queen's Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law, Canada's only English-language pathway to becoming a licensed immigration consultant, is training the next generation of professionals working at the intersection of immigration, citizenship, and public policy.

Impact across the SDGs

Beyond its top-rated areas, Queen's improved its performance across several SDGs.

Queen's moved into the global top 100 for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, reflecting the university's growing leadership in research areas critical to Canada's prosperity, security, and innovation capacity, including supercomputing, nuclear energy, and advanced materials.

The university also improved its standing in SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, reflecting efforts to advance sustainability across campus and strengthen collaborations with communities, governments, industry, and international partners.

Read more about Queen’s 2026 rating and learn about the research and activities driving our performance on Queen’s Social Impact website.