Find out more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

At the University of Toronto, the broader aspects of sustainability are a priority and The President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) was created in 2017 to advance coordination of the University’s contributions and objectives on climate change and sustainability pertaining to research and innovation, academic programs, and sustainability initiatives related to our operations. Additionally, there are many sustainability related activities and operations happening across all three campuses related to research, innovation, teaching, operations, outreach, and partnership that are not clearly identified as being related to SDGs.

Through the CECCS, the University of Toronto started to categorize the University’s teaching activity by mapping courses offered at the University to the relevant SDG by keyword matching to create a sustainability course inventory. Additional categorization of student based engagement, such as community engaged learning is underway. As a result of the work of the CECCS the University has produced the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability annual reports:

This report pulls the data from the Sustainability course inventory and combines it with similar categorization of the University’s research activity as measured by publications and tri-agency grants. These datasets are combined with other relevant information and data related to the SDG on startup companies, university operations, partnerships and outreach and recent items from the University’s news archive to create a profile for each SDG. In addition there is an aggregated overview of the data sources to give a sense of the University’s overall involvement with the SDGs.

For more information, please see the University’s dedicated Sustainability Website.

These resources fully explore the University’s activities, impact, contributions and future plans around sustainability research, teaching, operations, outreach, and community partnerships. However, the information contained within these resources is only partially organized around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Sustainable Development Goals at the University of Toronto

The following reports encapsulate data from the above resources combined with an analysis of the University’s research grants and scholarly publications and information about the University’s startup ecosystem, outreach and partnerships to provide an overview of the University’s impact upon and contributions to each of the Sustainable Development Goals and an overall summary for all 17 SDGs.

Sustainable Development Goals at the University of Toronto 2020 (PDF)

END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 15th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG1. There were 262 papers published between 2009 and 2018.
  • U of T faculty and students secured 210 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • Each year, the University of Toronto PBSC Chapter over 120 law student volunteers work in collaboration with community clinics and not-for-profit organizations, courts, tribunals, and academic institutions to deliver high-quality legal services to Canada's most vulnerable communities.

NEWS:

END HUNGER, ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND IMPROVED NUTRITION AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 26th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG2. There were 281 papers published between 2009 and 2018.
  • U of T faculty and students secured 210 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

JUST VERTICAL is a U of T start-up: promoting food sustainability through simple indoor hydroponic vertical gardens. https://justvertical.com/

UKKO AGRO is a U of T start-up: Smart agriculture ecosystem that helps optimize pesticide usage to minimize crop loss. https://ukko.ag/

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 65faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG2.
  • Food Services at the University of Toronto strive to ensure that campus food services provide a wide range of affordable sustainable and nutritious food options. Additionally the Local Food Standards were create to promote an increase in the volume of local ingredients and products sourced by campus food providers, raise awareness of local food options within the university community, support sustainable and responsible farming practices, and ensure that clearly defined labeling standards are maintained across the St. George campus.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The mission of the Canadian Centre for World Hunger Research (CCWHR) at the University of Toronto Scarborough is to advance global food security through the development and innovative application of cutting-edge science and technology. The Centre will strive to deliver major improvements in the productivity and sustainability of the world’s leading crops, particularly in the context of the needs of the developing world. In addition, the Centre will play a leading role in educating the Canadian public about hunger and its alleviation.
  • PROOF is an interdisciplinary research team investigating household food insecurity in Canada. The goal of this research program is to identify effective policy approaches to reduce household food insecurity, which is defined as the inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints.

NEWS:

ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 3rd in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG3. There were 3,872 papers published between 2009 and 2018.
  • U of T faculty and students secured 1,136 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

EMPOWER health is a U of T start-up: Helps patients find the care they need and healthcare providers deliver the best quality of service to patients by developing various healthtech platforms.
https://www.empower.ca/

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 65 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG2.
  • There are nine hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area are fully affiliated with the University of Toronto

OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIP:

NEWS:

ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 4th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG4. In total there were 768 publications between 2009 and 2018.
  • U of T faculty secured 423 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

Pueblo Science is a U of T start-up: A registered charity founded by scientists and engineers whose mission is to advance science education across the world and create lasting solutions to poverty. https://puebloscience.org/

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Centre for Community Partnerships connects students with opportunities to take and action and learn from intentional community based partnerships outside of the classroom, while building sustainable partnerships with community organizations across the GTA and Peel regions.
  • Professor Karen Mundy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) is a leading expert on education in the developing world. She has made significant contributions via UNESCO to the achievement of SDG4.

NEWS:

ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 4th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG5. With 727 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 210 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Women & Gender Studies Institute (WGSI) at the University of Toronto is dedicated to exploring the entangled work of gender, race and sexuality in identities, relations, practices, theories and institutions. WGSI connects its activities beyond the classroom with our exciting practicum program that offers students the chance to work with community organizations and our many community-engaged research projects. In these ways, WGSI aspires to provide students with experiences that will not only transform their thinking, but also support their future undertakings and sense of self.
  • The Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the Rotman School of Management promotes an understanding of gender inequalities and how they can be remedied – by people of all genders – in the world of business and, more broadly, in the economy.

NEWS:

ENSURE AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL

RESEARCH:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 58th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG6. In total there were 826 publications between 2009 and 2018.
  • U of T faculty secured 142 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 27 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG6.
  • In 2018 the University used 1,526,766,000 litres of which 4,495,000 litres were collected from rain water.
  • Signatory to the “Ontatio universities commited to a greener world”
  • The University is committed to sustainable buildings both new and old. New buildings are built to LEED silver standard at minimum and older buildings are being retrofitted. Deerfield Hall at UTM is an example of how sustainable water usage is embedded into the design.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Drinking Water Research Group work with partners from industry and government on a wide range of projects related to municipal drinking water.
  • The University of Toronto Campus as a Living Lab initiative incorporate experiential learning opportunities through collaborations with operational and community partners to identify and solve real sustainability issues. Examples relating to SDG 6 include:
    • Water Conservation Project at Trinity College: A Rainwater Harvesting Proposal for the Rooftop Garden at North Munk
    • Sustainable Building Design Standards

NEWS:

ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 99th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG7. With 320 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 383 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

Reeddi:  founded by University of Toronto alumni and supported by the University’s Entrepreneurship Hatchery, is a clean energy start-up. Reeddi sustainably provides clean energy at a price point that individuals and businesses operating in energy poor regions of the world can afford. Find out more at: https://www.reeddi.com/

QDSolar: a spinoff company from the University of Toronto utilizes Quantum Dot technology in combination with traditional solar cell technology to improve efficiency via conversion of a broad solar spectrum into electrical energy.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 61 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG7.
  • The University of Toronto’s Low-Carbon Action Plan 2019-2024 outlines many clean energy initiatives such as Solar Energy. Additionally, it outlines how electricity, steam, and waste energy generated by the Central Plant are utilized and distributed in an efficient and affordable manner.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) at the University of Toronto is an inclusive, multidisciplinary centre designed to bring together researchers, students, and teachers from across the university, together with partners from industry and government, with the goal of increasing energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of energy use and conversion.
  • The Clean Energy Lab at the University of Toronto Scarborough works on developing new materials for Li-ion batteries, hydrogen storage, CO2 capture, and photovoltaics. Utilizing atomistic simulations, machine learning, automated high-throughput materials synthesis and characterization to demonstrate proof-of-principle devices that will speed-up the transition to renewables.

NEWS:

PROMOTE SUSTAINED, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 14th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG8. With 394 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 343 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 79 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG8.
  • The University of Toronto has 28 employee groups (unions and others).
  • The University of Toronto has multiple awards as an employer including:Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2020
    • Canada’s Top Family Friendly employers 2019
    • 2019 Top Employers for Canadians over 40
    • 2019 Canada’s Greenest Employers
    • Greater Toronto’s Top 2019 Employers
    • 2019 Canada’s Best Diversity Employers
  • The University publishes a Human Resources & Equity Annual Report

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • University of Toronto Entrepreneurship community is Canada’s leading engine for research-based startups and a global leader in transforming ideas into products and services that impact the world. In the past ten years, more than 500 research-based startups have been launched from U of T, outpacing every other Canadian university and generating more than $1 billion (CAD) in investment.

NEWS:

BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALIZATION AND FOSTER INNOVATION

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 50th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG9. With 89 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 204 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

Cast Connex, a University of Toronto start-up company, is a North American industry leader in standardized and customized cast steel structural components for buildings and bridges, focussed on creating safer, innovative, and more beautiful built environments. Cast Connex is also part of an industry-wide coalition to prepare Haiti for another major earthquake like the one that devastated the country in 2010.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 34 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG9.
  • The University of Toronto’s Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering is a preeminent leader in education and research in systems-based approaches to developing sustainable solutions for the global community across the spectrum from mineral engineering to urban infrastructure. The department conducts research across a wide range of relevant fields and the department teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees training future leaders in the development of infrastructure around the globe.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Innovation Policy Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy mission is to study, teach, and apply novel methods and disciplines to the study of innovation and its impact on growth and society. Areas of focus include: innovation and growth, innovation and inequality, globalization and innovation, social innovation, new technologies and their impact on society, innovation in traditional industries, and arts and innovation.
  • The Toronto Institute of Advanced Manufacturing (TIAM) mission is to expedite research and development of advanced manufacturing technologies by creating a multidisciplinary network focused on sharing knowledge, ideas and resources. TIAM strives for global leadership by translating lab-based technologies into commercial, scaled-up processes and by contributing to the education and training of highly qualified personnel in the manufacturing sector.

NEWS:

REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 12th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG10. With 100 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 122 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Reach Project at the University of Toronto is “inspired by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda and, specifically, the assertion that truly inclusive growth can only come when no one is left behind” and “The Reach Project is uncovering new and novel insights into global development through its world-class research, and cultivating the next generation of global leadership talent — young leaders equipped with the skills and empowered with the experiences to change the world.”

NEWS:

MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE

RESEARCH:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 4th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG11. In total there were 992 publications between 2009 and 2018.
  • U of T faculty secured 331 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The University of Toronto’s School of Cities is a world-leading centre for innovative interdisciplinary urban research, education and engagement. Outreach and partnership are core to the school’s mission and there are a variety of ongoing activities such as Public Events and the Community-Builders Fellowship.
  • The University is working in partnership with the City of Toronto to develop its Secondary Plan the three main objectives are: Conserving and protecting cultural heritage resources; Enhancing and expanding the public realm; and Identifying opportunities for new development.

NEWS:

ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 119th in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG12. With 129 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 239 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017

One of the University of Toronto’s many startups - Ardra: Making Chemicals Sustainable - Ardra’s ingredients are created by fermenting natural sugars, and are free of harmful residues that may be found in petroleum-derived synthetic ingredients.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 48 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG12.
  • Recycling and waste reduction are high priorities at the University of Toronto and the University’s sustainability offices at the St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough campuses provide a wealth of information about waste reduction and recycling policies and procures.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability brings together leading experts that advance the University’s understanding of complex issues and items for action that mobilize the University of Toronto a global leader in sustainability research, education, operations, and community partnerships. For more information see the Annual Report 2019 – From Vision to Action.

NEWS:

TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 41st in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG13. With 1,281 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 311 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 86 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG13.
  • The President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability brings together leading experts that advance the University’s understanding of complex issues and items for action that mobilize the University of Toronto a global leader in sustainability research, education, operations, and community partnerships. For more information see the Annual Report 2019 – From Vision to Action.
  • In 2018, the University of Toronto joined the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3); a group of leading research universities in North America committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on their own campuses and in their communities. In line with this commitment, the University of Toronto set a goal to reduce GHG emissions 37 per cent by 2030, below a 1990 baseline level.
    University operations has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 55,000 metric tons over the past decade. A five-year Low-Carbon Action Plan (2019-2024) has been developed to further implement carbon reduction strategies across U of T’s three campuses—accelerating efforts as we work towards our 2030 goal.
    See U of T’s Low-Carbon Action Plan (2019-2024) for details of our plans to meet our climate change commitments.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Centre for Global Change Science serves as the University’s focal point for research and education in Global Change Science. Additionally, the Centre offers a variety of outreach services including frequent seminars and training programs.
  • There are many student groups at the University of Toronto related to climate change. Many of which are listed on the School of the Environment’s website.

NEWS:

CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS, SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto had 160 scholarly publications related to SDG14 between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 79 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 30 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG14.
  • The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at the University of Toronto is one of the largest departments of its kind in North America, with internationally renowned and award-winning faculty.
    • The Conservation Science Group at the EEB is a collaboration of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty interested in conservation science at the University of Toronto

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Rochman Lab are committed to doing ecological research that is applicable to management. To bridge the gap between academia and management, we collaborate with non-profit organizations and government agencies.
    Research at the Rochman Lab seeks to understand the sources, fate and ecological implications of anthropogenic pollutants in freshwater and marine ecosystems.

NEWS:

PROTECT, RESTORE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, SUSTAINABLY MANAGE FORESTS, COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, AND HALT AND REVERSE LAND DEGRADATION AND HALT BIODIVERSITY LOSS

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 66th  in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG15. With 442 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 174 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 34 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG15.
  • The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at the University of Toronto is one of the largest departments of its kind in North America, with internationally renowned and award-winning faculty.
    • The Conservation Science Group at the EEB is a collaboration of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty interested in conservation science at the University of Toronto.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP:

  • The Rollinson Lab work primarily on reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, combining field experiments, long-term monitoring, and metadata to understand the evolution of life histories, maternal effects on body size, temperature-dependent sex determination, phenotypic responses to climate change, and a variety of other topics.

NEWS:

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL AND BUILD EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS

RESEARCH & INNOVATION:

  • The University of Toronto was ranked 8th  in the world among universities for the volume of scholarly publications related to SDG16. With 294 publications between 2009 and 2018
  • U of T faculty secured 227 tri-council research grants between 2010 and 2017.

A U of T startup, Blue J Legal’s AI-powered platforms accurately predict court outcomes and enable you to find relevant cases faster than ever before.

A U of T startup, ROSS Intelligence is a legal research platform that makes your research fast and easy using artificial intelligence.

TEACHING:

OPERATIONS:

  • There are 49 faculty at the University of Toronto whose work is closely related to SDG16.
  • Each year, the University of Toronto PBSC Chapter over 120 law student volunteers work in collaboration with community clinics and not-for-profit organizations, courts, tribunals, and academic institutions to deliver high-quality legal services to Canada's most vulnerable communities.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP

  • The Trudeau Centre for Peace, Conflict and Justice at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy is focused on developing future leaders passionate about addressing challenges related to peace, conflict and justice – some of the most important questions of our time. The program provides undergraduates with an interdisciplinary education covering three central pillars: the meanings and causes of peace, conflict and justice; the lived experiences of living in the context of conflict and struggles for peace and justice; and approaches to resolving conflict and producing peace and/or justice.
  • The Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto offers a range of Affiliated Centres, Special Programs and Legal Clinics that explore contemporary legal issues and offer students exciting opportunities to expand their legal education.

NEWS:

STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

RESEARCH, INNOVATION & TEACHING METRICS

SDG 17 has a different nature to the other goals with regards to how universities might have an impact. Research and Teaching relevant to SDG 17 is being conducted at the University of Toronto but is challenging to quantify and data based upon SDG17 would not be of statistically significant volumes to warrant analysis.

TEACHING

  • The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto is a comprehensive scholarship that provides talented yet financially disadvantaged students from Sub-Saharan Africa with access to relevant university education. The Program aims to educate and enable students to contribute to the economic growth and social development of their countries of origin.
  • The Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships at the University of Toronto provide an unparalleled opportunity for outstanding international students to study at one of the world’s best universities in one of the world’s most multicultural cities. The scholarship program is intended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity and who are recognized as leaders within their school. A special emphasis is placed on the impact the student has had on the life of their school and community, and their future potential to contribute positively to the global community.

OPERATIONS

  • The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC) assists Ethiopians in identifying and implementing solutions to some of their nation’s most pressing challenges through training and education. This partnership brings together faculty and learners at the University of Toronto (U of T) with colleagues at Addis Ababa University (AAU). Together, they support AAU in preparing the specialist professionals Ethiopia needs, while building upon U of T’s commitment to global citizenship and international engagement. By developing and strengthening AAU’s graduate medical and academic programs, we are building capacity in Ethiopia to train their own professionals. This will lead to a robust and accessible healthcare system, an improved economy, and pre-empt food insecurity and unemployment. Together, we are building a better future for Ethiopia.

OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP

  • The Reach Project at the University of Toronto is “inspired by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda and, specifically, the assertion that truly inclusive growth can only come when no one is left behind” and “The Reach Project is uncovering new and novel insights into global development through its world-class research, and cultivating the next generation of global leadership talent — young leaders equipped with the skills and empowered with the experiences to change the world.”
  • The Centre for Global Child Health is the dedicated hub for global child health-focused activities at SickKids. The Centre supports the global agenda for newborn, child and adolescent health through collaborative research grounded in scholarship, sustainable capacity building through education, the use of evidence to inform policy development, and advocacy for improved health for children and families.

NEWS:

Data sources:

  • Scholarly paper counts are from Clarivate Analytics Web of Science (http://webofknowledge.com), covering articles published between 2009 and 2018 and document types of: Articles, Reviews, Proceedings papers, Books, and Book chapters.
  • Tri-council grants are from U15’s Cognit database (https://cognit.ca) covering grants from CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC from 2010 to 2017
  • Courses are analyzed from the University of Toronto Course Finder (http://coursefinder.utoronto.ca/) for the academic year 2019-20.
  • Other data in this report come from publicly available reports at the University of Toronto

Potential shortcomings and known problems

Keyword searching is imprecise and will inevitably both miss some important documents and falsely identify papers that are irrelevant. Best efforts have been made to make a balance between searching inclusively and precisely.

Databases of scholarly research contain biases for three reasons:

  • Different fields of study have different publication behaviours, for example: scholars in the biomedical fields publish frequently in journals but social scientists typically publish less frequently and often in books.
  • The coverage of the databases of scholarly research cover different subjects and media unevenly and typically over-represent sciences and journals.
  • The different media of publication have different traditions with regards to the use of abstracts. However, abstracts will substantially improve the retrieval of the search query, this may lead to an underrepresentation of books and book chapters in the results.

These biases can be problematic, for example: when searching for SDG4 – Quality Education: the search query found many papers in the field of public health related to educational attainment and health outcomes. Although these papers are still of relevance to SDG4, they may be overrepresented in the results.

 

Keywords queries used for the analysis of Research Papers

SDG Short title Keywords (Web of Science)*
1 No poverty Query 1: poverty NOT (health or disease or infection)

Query 2: poverty and ("socio economic" or socioeconomic or resilience or "income distribution" or "wealth distribution" or disadvantage)

Query 3: "social protection" or "extreme poverty" or "entrenched deprivation" or "basic income guarantee" or "poverty eradication" or "poverty line"
2 Zero hunger Query 1: (farming or food or hunger or hungry or agricultur* or nutrition or nourish* or malnutrition or malnourish*) near/10 (security or insecurity or reserves or resilien* or sustainab*)

Query 2: ("crop diversity" or "food produc*" or "agricult* produc*")
3 Good health and well-being Query 1: (health* or vaccine* or medicin* or malaria or HIV or tuberculosis or hepatitis or immuni*) near/10 (access* or afford* or finance* or poverty* or "low income" or "middle income" or wellbeing or "well being" or "well-being")

Query 2: mortality near/2 (neonatal or maternal or child* or premature or rate or suicide or cancer or cardiovascular or "heart disease" or diabetes or "chronic respiratory diseases")

Query 3:  "Life expectancy" or "universal health*" or "World Health Organisation" or "major disease*" or "tropical disease*" or "communicable disease*" or "non-communicable disease*"
4 Quality education Query 1: (educat* or numeracy or literacy or illiterate or pedagog* or schooling) near/10 (inclusi* or equality or equit* or "primary school" or quality or marginali* or participation or "childhood")

Query 2: "lifelong learning" or "life-long learning" or "proficiency standards" "early childhood development"
5 Gender equality Query 1: (gender or woman* or women* or girl* or female*) near/5 (equality or equity or marginali* or parity or pay or salary or salaries or discriminat* or exploit* or empower* or disadvantag* or dignity or violence or "labo$r force" or "work force" or leadership or managerial or inequity or inequality or underrepresent* or "under represent*" or representation or diversity or "domestic violence")

Query 2: ("Sexual and reproductive health" or "Sexual exploitation" or "Sexual violence" or "child marriage$" or "gender quota" or "female genital mutilation" or "intimate partner violence" or prostitution)
6 Clean water and sanitation Query1: ("clean water" or "drinking water" or "fresh water" or freshwater or wastewater or "waste water" or "water quality" or sanitation or "water supply" or "water treatment" or "wastewater treatment" or "water security" or "water resource$ management" or sewer* or greywater)
7 Affordable and clean energy Query 1: ((energy or fuel* or electricity) near/3 (renewable or sustainable or clean or affordable or "low carbon" or reliable or "green house gas emissions" or "greenhouse gas emissions")) not ("small cell network*" or "Distributed Antenna Systems")

Query 2: ("wind power" or "solar power" or "hydro power" or "renewable power" or hydroelectric or "hydro electric" or "green energy" or "sustainable energy" or geothermal or "energy intensity" or "Clean* fossil fuel technology" or "wave power" or "wind turbine" or "energy innovation" or Energiewende)
8 Decent work and economic growth Query1: (employment or jobs or labour or labor or worker$ or wage$ or unemployment or prosperity) near/5 (sustain* or development or productivity or inclusive or decent)

Query 2: "economic growth" or "economic development " or "labor productivity" or "labour productivity" or "GDP growth" or "GDP per capita" or "economic productivity" or "aid for trade" or "decent job*" or "decent work" or "quality job*" or "living wage" or "minimum wage" or "precarious employment"
9 Industry, Innovation and infrastructure Query 1: ("infrastructure" or "industrialization" or "manufacturing" or "internet access" or "broadband" or "mobile connectivity") near/15 (sustainable or inclusive or "economic development" or "economic growth" or "developing countr*" or "developing nation$")

Query 2: ("scientific research" or "research and development" or "R&D" or innovation or entrepreneur* or "creative industr*" or "creative economy" or "service industr*" or "service economy" or tourism) and ("economic development" or "economic growth" or "developing countr*" or "developing Nation$")

Query 3: ("Industrial diversification" or "sustainable transport*" "sustainable transit" or "public transit infrastructure" or "public transport* infrastructure" or "infrastructur* development" or "infrastructur* investment" or "infrastructur* construction" or "belt and road" or "transborder infrastructur*")

Query 4: Query #1, #2, and #3 NOT "health*"
10 Reduced inequalities Query 1: (("international trade" or "world trade" or "free trade" or "trade barrier"or inequalit* or equalit* or "equal opportunity") near/15 ("developing countr*" or "developing state*" or "developing nation*" or financ* or econom* or socioeconom* or income)) not health

Query 2: ((tariff or tax or taxation or "duty free") near/15 ("developing countr*" or "developing state*" or "developing nation*" or "economic development")) not health

Query 3: ("income disparity" or "affordable housing" or "gini index" or "gini coefficient") not health
11 Sustainable cities and communities Query 1: (Urbani$ation or City or Cities or urban or slum$) and (resilien* or sustain* or inclusiv* or "particulate matter" or "public transport" or "public space" or "green space" or "waste management" or "waste collection" or access* or pollution or "climate change")

Query 2: ("Affordable housing" or "Sustainable communit*" or "Sustainable building*" or "gentrification")
12 Responsible consumption and production Query 1: ((production or waste or "natural resources") near/5 (recycl* or sustainable or efficien*)) not (health or metabol*)

Query 2: "sustainable design" or "industrial ecology" or "industrial waste" or "toxic waste" or "material consumption" or "sustainable consumption" or "green consumption" or "sustainable tourism" or "fossil fuel subsid*" or "sustainability report$"
13 Climate action Query 1: (climate) near/5 (change or extreme or weather or warming)

Query 2: "global warming" OR "greenhouse gas*" OR "Climate action" OR "Climate mitigation" OR "Climate related hazards" OR "Extreme weather" OR "Ocean warming" OR "Sea level rise" OR "Rising sea level" OR "Green Climate Fund" OR "Climate finance" OR "climate adaptation"
14 Life below water Query 1: (ocean$ or marine or sea$ or coastal or coast or mangrove) near/15 (sustain* or conserv* or ecosystem* or pollution or biodiversity or eutrophication or Deoxygenation or warming or hypoxia or "dead zone" or acidification)

Query 2: "coral bleaching" or "unregulated fishing" or "sustainable fishing" or overfishing or "over fishing" or "fisheries management"
15 Life on land Query 1: (forest* OR wetland* OR mountain* OR dryland* OR "fresh water" OR freshwater OR wildlife OR desert*) near/10 (biodiversity or ecosystem or ecology or sustain* or conserv* or "land use")

Query 2: "terrestrial ecosystems" or desertification or "land degradation" or "invasive species" or "invasive alien species" or "cropland expansion" or "Red List Index" OR "Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources" or "deforestation" or "degraded forests" or "afforestation" or "reforestation" or "sustainable forest management" or "degraded land" or "degraded soil" or "mountain green cover index" or "poaching" or "trafficking of protected species" OR "illegal wildlife products" or"Ecosystem restoration" or "threatened species" OR "extinct species"
16 Peace, justice and strong institutions Query 1: (justice or governance or peace or democra* or crime or criminal or legal or judicia* or corrupt*) near/10 (institution* or accountable or transparent or inclusive or open)

Query 2: "arms trafficking" or "illicit arms trade" or "hate crime" or "Human trafficking" or "Illegal arms" or "Justice for all" or "Organized crime" or "false confession" or "torture" or "armed conflict$" or "civil conflict$" or "peacekeeping" or "Geneva Convention" or "genocid*" or "homicid*" or "effective rule of law" or "fundamental freedom$" or "peaceful society" or "independent judiciary" or "child trafficking" or "bribery" or "voting right$" or "right to vote"
17 Partnerships for the goals Query 1: ("world bank" or ODA OR "official development assistance" OR "private investment" OR "economic imbalanc*" OR "Foreign direct investment$" OR FDI OR "World Trade Organization" or WTO OR "public debt" or "public private partnership$" or "bilateral investment" OR "access to the internet" or "international cooperation" or "international aid" or "civil society partnership$")

Query 2: "SDG17" or "Enhanced international cooperation " or "Doha Development Agenda" or "Global partnership for sustainable development"

* The keywords for search the Cognit database were based on the Web of Science keywords but the Boolean search operators were modified for compliance with the search engine rules.

 Additional tables are available below.

SDG Articles (2009-2018)GrantsCourses offered 2019-20courses st georgecourses UTSCcourses UTMActive Faculty
12622105124141339
228121010451252865
3387211363411899161225
47684239948163548
57272104462297813953
68261428041192027
7320383947191461
8394343189101414779
989204275161417334
10100122223102526923
11992331259167603248
12129239238130515748
13128131155531212611786
1416079181101364430
15442174249159424834
162942274472468311849
175n/an/an/an/an/an/a
Total (de-duplicated)9485n/a22281255445528n/a
Total (inc duplicates)1094247443831213212291443949

 

The following table aggregates key operational data at the University of Toronto related to Sustainable Development Goals.

MeasureYearUnitValue
Volume of water used2018liltres1526766000
Waste generated 2018Tonne6294.2
Waste recycled2018Tonne4033
Waste sent to landfill2018Tonne2062
Energy used2018Gigajoule(GJ)2294970
Energy used from low carbon sources2018Gigajoule(GJ)48712
Total Scope 1 + 2 eCO2 Emissions2017-18Tonne114265

 

Scope 1+2 eCO2 data represents all purchased utility sources including Toronto Hydro, Hydro One, Enbridge Gas, Enwave and other natural gas suppliers. Purchased utilities and GSM data include all 3 campuses, federated colleges, and external entities for scope 1 & 2 emissions