Times Higher Education (THE), a UK-based higher education magazine, released THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 on June 24, 2026. Hokkaido University was ranked 7th in the world, and for the seventh consecutive year, 1st in Japan, among the 1,603 universities included in the overall ranking.
In the SDG-specific rankings, Hokkaido University received particularly high recognition for SDG 2: Zero Hunger, ranking 2nd out of 731 universities worldwide and maintaining its global 2nd-place position for the second consecutive year. The university was also ranked within the global top 100 in the following categories: SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (36th); SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (41st); SDG 14: Life Below Water (21st); SDG 15: Life on Land (18th); SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (21st); and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals (31st).
Among these, Hokkaido University ranked 1st in Japan in six SDG categories: SDG 2, SDG 11, SDG 14, SDG 15, SDG 16, and SDG 17. SDG 2, SDG 14, SDG 16, and SDG 17 retained the top national ranking for the second consecutive year, while SDG 15 retained the top national ranking for the fifth consecutive year. In addition, Hokkaido University also tied for the 1st rank in Japan for SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Founded in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College, Hokkaido University is one of the oldest degree-granting institutions in Japan. The university promotes field research in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related fields, leveraging Hokkaido’s rich natural environment, and advances education and research that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. Hokkaido University has developed and implemented its own sustainability strategies, including the Campus Master Plan 96 (1997), the Hokkaido University Initiative for Sustainable Development (2005), and Sustainability Weeks (2007–2017).
More recently, the Institute for the Advancement of Sustainability, established in 2021, has been responsible for advancing a green, sustainable campus and coordinating SDG-related activities across the university community. Building on these efforts, Hokkaido University will continue to work under HU VISION 2030 and its international strategy for sustainability toward 2040, aiming to become “a university that contributes to solving global issues and achieving the SDGs.”
President Kiyohiro Houkin’s comment upon receiving THE Sustainability Impact Ratings:
"THE Sustainability Impact Ratings are attracting growing attention among university rankings worldwide. It is a great honor for Hokkaido University to have been ranked 7th in the world, and for the seventh consecutive year, 1st in Japan, among over 1,600 participating universities. This recognition reflects the high regard for our long-standing contributions to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and I am especially pleased that, in this year marking the 150th anniversary of our foundation, those efforts have culminated in our highest-ever achievement:7th place in the world.
Since its founding, Hokkaido University has cultivated distinctive strengths in food production, field science, and environmental science. In recent years, through education, research, and regional co-creation initiatives such as GX (Green Transformation) and J-PEAKS (Japan’s Peak Research Universities), we have further strengthened our efforts to help realize a decarbonized society and foster innovation.
Building on the legacy of our past 150 years, we will continue to embrace new challenges so that we may pass on a sustainable society to future generations in a meaningful and enduring way."
For details of Hokkaido University’s “THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026,” see:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/hokkaido-university