The second York University Annual Sustainability Report, released today, includes the President’s Sustainability Council (PSC) Annual Report, which has been compiled yearly since 2010 and summarizes progress on recommendations the council has made to the University’s president over the past four years. Also included is the Environmental Sustainability Report from York’s 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.
“This year’s Sustainability Report demonstrates, once again, the impressive progress that we are making on sustainability here at York,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “From York 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’s Greenest Employers for the second year in a row.”
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 York University'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’ market; and
- named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2013 and 2014.
“I am very pleased by the steady progress we have made during my three-year term as chair of the PSC,” said Professor Ilan Kapoor, outgoing chair of the PSC. “I 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 York.”
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 York University’s 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 York University, visit the Sustainability website and the CSBO website.