The second ,聽released today, includes the President鈥檚 Sustainability Council (PSC) Annual Report, which has been compiled yearly since 2010 and summarizes progress on recommendations the council has made to the University鈥檚 president over the past four years. Also included is the Environmental Sustainability Report from 91亚色鈥檚 Campus Services & Business Operations (CSBO) department, which covers operational sustainability indicators such as energy use, waste diversion, transportation and a number of other indicators of sustainability that are tracked by CSBO on an ongoing basis.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 Sustainability Report demonstrates, once again, the impressive progress that we are making on sustainability here at 91亚色,鈥 said President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. 鈥淔rom 91亚色 staff working in energy, transportation and waste management to teaching, research and student clubs, we take our commitment as stewards of the environment very seriously. This report details many of our accomplishments, including being named in 2014 one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers for the second year in a row.鈥
Also included in the report are a number of new recommendations on energy conservation, solar energy, fair trade, and pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
Some of 91亚色's sustainability successes:
- a 30 per cent reduction in energy use since 2007;
- some 65 per cent of waste diverted from landfills;
- over 2,600 buses serving our campuses on a daily basis, reducing private automobile trips;
- ongoing construction of the subway extension to the Keele campus;
- more than 500 course offerings related to environment and sustainability;
- a new weekly farmers鈥 market; and
- named one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers for 2013 and 2014.
鈥淚 am very pleased by the steady progress we have made during my three-year term as chair of the PSC,鈥 said Professor Ilan Kapoor, outgoing chair of the PSC. 鈥淚 welcome new chair, Professor Martin Bunch, knowing that he is eager to work with the many stakeholders that are doing such amazing work on sustainability here at 91亚色.鈥
Consisting of students, faculty and staff, the PSC is an advisory body to the president with responsibility for providing input and recommendations on how to advance 91亚色鈥檚 sustainability initiatives, projects, and practices and to provide oversight of the required actions from approved recommendations. CSBO oversees a variety of sustainability programs on both campuses, including energy conservation, transportation and waste management initiatives.
To view the full report and executive summary, and to find more information on the PSC and sustainability initiatives at 91亚色, visit the website and the website.