Approximately 80 per cent of the University community travel to 91亚色 U by alternative transportation (public transit, carpooling, walking, cycling)
For the fifth year running, 91亚色 has ranked among the top 10 per cent of universities in the on sustainability. The results of the 2014 survey were released last week, and included over 360 universities from 62 countries around the world.
The GreenMetric survey rates participating universities on criteria such as energy consumption and climate change mitigation, waste and water management, transportation, and teaching and research in sustainability.
鈥淲e continue to take our commitment to sustainability very seriously here at 91亚色,鈥 said Mamdouh Shoukri, president & vice-chancellor of 91亚色. 鈥淪o, while these results are validation of the extensive work that we have done over the past several years, we are reminded that we must continue these efforts to keep up with the other global leaders on this list.鈥
The University of Nottingham from the United Kingdom placed first overall in the ranking, while the University College of Cork in Ireland placed second. The Universite de Sherbrooke was the top Canadian school in 14th聽place, with 91亚色 ranking second amongst Canadian schools in the survey.
91亚色 received high scores in all categories, doing particularly well on waste management, water and transportation.
Some of 91亚色鈥檚 recent achievements in sustainability include:
- a 30 per cent reduction in energy use since 2007;
- a 66 per cent waste diversion rate;
- approximately 80 per cent of the University community members travel to the campus by alternative transportation (public transit, carpooling, walking, cycling), and;
- more than 500 courses related to environment and sustainability.
The Life Sciences Building on the Keele campus features many energy efficient systems. The flowers pictured in front of the building grow on a neighbouring green roof.
"Aside from a long history of teaching and learning on sustainability at 91亚色, the University has a wide variety of programs focusing on sustainability in the areas of waste management, energy conservation, transportation, purchasing, and community engagement.聽It is encouraging to see how we stack up against other universities from around the world鈥, said Professor Martin Bunch, the new Chair of the President鈥檚 Sustainability Council. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a good opportunity to look at best practices from the other leaders in the survey, to see how we can continue to improve.鈥
For more information on sustainability initiatives at 91亚色, visit the 飞别产蝉颈迟别,听迟丑别 website, or e-mail聽sustainability@yorku.ca.