Hokkaido University, whose predecessor was the Sapporo Agricultural College, has been aiming to contribute to a sustainable society since the days when the SDGs were not even a word. The following is an introduction to our history to date and the structure for advancing the SDGs.

Progress toward the SDGs

Hokkaido University's promotion of sustainability began in 1996, even before the UN adopted the SDGs in 2015, when the university formulated the “Campus Master Plan” （https://www.sustainability.hokudai.ac.jp/about/policy/cmp/）, the first of its kind among national universities.
In 2008, the “Sapporo Sustainability Declaration” was adopted at the world’s first G8 Universities Summit, hosted by Hokkaido University as Vice-Chair University in Sapporo.
In 2014, the university formulated a near-future strategy titled “ Toward a Hokkaido University Contributing to Solving Global Challenges” for its 150th anniversary in 2026, and has been conducting education and research that contributes to the realization of a sustainable society.
As a result of these efforts, from 2020 to 2025, Hokkaido University has been ranked 1st in Japan for six consecutive years in THE Impact Rankings.

HU VISION 2030

HU VISION 2030, announced in 2023, targets the year 2030, four years from now, and clearly visualizes "Excellence" and "Extension," outlining Hokkaido University's medium-term vision for creating a virtuous cycle and ecosystem through the integration of these two.
For an explanation and video of HU VISION 2030, please click here. *You will be redirected to the Hokkaido University main site.

System to advance the SDGs

The 17 goals of the SDGs are interrelated, and cooperation among different fields is required to solve the issues.
The university has established a system to advance the SDGs and sustainability.

Institute for the Advancement of Sustainability

https://www.sustainability.hokudai.ac.jp/
A platform for promoting education, research, social collaboration, and the construction of a sustainable campus that contributes to the creation of a sustainable society. The organization has established an "SDGs Initiative Division" and a "Campus Management Division."

Integrated URA Office

https://u4u.oeic.hokudai.ac.jp/
An organization of experts in research management responsible for planning and implementing strategies to strengthen Hokkaido University’s research capabilities, including global rankings such as THE Impact Rankings, support for scientific research grants, and support for the acquisition of large-scale research projects.