Sustainable Development Goals
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is a global leader in sustainability — the first Canadian post-secondary institution to earn Platinum STARS status twice (2018 and 2022) and one of only two to achieve the highest rating. Building on steady progress from Silver (2011) to Gold (2015) to Platinum, TRU continues to embed sustainability across campus life, learning and operations.
As a proud signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord, TRU advances the SDGs through teaching, research and community action, sharing its progress each year through real impact on campus and beyond.
Explore each of the goals below to learn how the TRU community worked to advance SDGs over the past year.
About SDG Accord
In 2022, Thompson Rivers University became a proud signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord, joining a global movement of post-secondary institutions committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future.
The SDG Accord connects universities and colleges around the world to take action on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, share progress openly and learn from one another. By signing on, TRU is strengthening its commitment to weave sustainability into education, research, operations, and community engagement — and to report on our impact every year.
About SDG Week Canada
Thompson Rivers University is proud to take part in SDG Week Canada, a national collaboration that brights together universities and colleges to raise awareness and spark action around the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Throughout the week, TRU hosts events, workshops, and conversations that highlight local and global sustainability challenges and solutions, while inspiring our campus and community to get involved.
Some highlights from TRU’s SDG Week Canada, held March 4 - 8, 2024 include Green Drinks Kamloops: Sustainability Social and SDGs and Global Super Snacks.
SDGs and Global Super Snacks
As part of TRU’s participation in SDG Week Canada, the university hosted the second annual SDGs and Global Super Snacks event in 2024.
The event brought together 170 participants from across the TRU community to explore local solutions for each of the 17 SDGs while sharing foods from 17 of the over 100 countries represented on campus. This gathering demonstrated how cultural exchange and connection can inspire meaningful sustainability action.
Each of the seventeen tables will represent one of the SDGs and each table will be led by a subject-area expert in that SDG. Participants worked together to identify one or two important and realistic action items about an SDG that can be brought to life at TRU over the next one to three years. These insights are used to inform the work of the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Sustainability Office, which advises the university on sustainability actions and priorities.
About AASHE
Thompson Rivers University is a proud member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a global network supporting colleges and universities to lead on sustainability through collaboration, resources, and innovation.
AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ratings System (STARS) is the world's most widely used framework for measuring and reporting campus sustainability performance, with more than 1200 registered institutions in over 56 countries.
TRU is proud to be a global leader in this space:
- First Canadian post-secondary institution to achieve Platinum STARS status twice (2018 and 2022)
- One of only two Canadian post-secondary institutions to achieve the highest STARS rating
- A strong record of progress — Silver (2011), Gold (2015), Platinum (2018 and 2022)
