91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ's Sustainability Office (MOOS) is co-developing the University's upcoming Climate & Sustainability Strategy. The key to the strategy's success lies in gathering input from all members of the 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ community, including students, staff, and faculty. Through a thorough consultation process, we aim to capture diverse perspectives, address priorities, and tackle concerns.
Following completion, the draft strategy will undergo review by 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s Board of Governors.
Understand the timeline
Community contributions to the strategy
To capture the diversity of voices within the 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ community, in Winter 2024 we established a Community Vision Board. It provided an easy and anonymous way to contribute your ideas or show support for those of others.
Feedback was collected until Tuesday, April 30th, 2024. Consult the final now! Editing is now closed.
Our contributors took inspiration from their experiences and interests, the current strategy, or from consulting 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ's achievements to date in our recent annual reports.
As we progress further in preparing the forthcoming Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2025-2030, feel free to familiarize yourself with the various priority areas for sustainability at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ in the carousel below.
Explore the priority areas
- Research & Education
- Buildings & Utilities
- Travel & Commuting
- Food Systems
- Procurement
- Landscape & Ecosystems
- Community Building
- Waste Management
Research & Education
91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to identify strategies to increase learning and research opportunities in sustainability. This includes: Â
- Providing essential sustainability education for studentsÂ
- Increasing sustainability-related research opportunitiesÂ
- Reducing the environmental impacts of current research activitiesÂ
Buildings & Utilities
91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to increase the environmental performance of buildings while reducing their carbon footprint. This includes:Â
- Transitioning from natural gas heating to electric systemsÂ
- Investing in energy efficiency upgrades Â
Travel & Commuting
Travel and commuting at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ is responsible for about one-third of the University’s greenhouse gas emissions! Therefore, 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to develop initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of commuting activities, directly funded air travel, and 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s vehicle fleet. This includes:Â
- Upgrading 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s vehicle fleet to electricÂ
- Reducing directly funding air travelÂ
- Enhancing cycling infrastructureÂ
Food Systems
91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to make its food system, including its supply chain, more sustainable and promote more sustainable food offerings. This might involve: Â
- Sourcing from local, sustainable vendors Â
- Increasing the amount of plant-based options on campusÂ
- Reducing packaging and food system wasteÂ
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Procurement refers to the process of sourcing, purchasing, and receiving goods or services. 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to promote sustainable supply chains and contribute to the development of a circular economy. This includes:Â
- Exploring and improving decision-making regarding the procurement of goods, services, and assets Â
- Supporting greater transparency and accountability in 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s supply chainsÂ
Landscape & Ecosystems
Through the University’s grounds management, 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to develop landscaping projects that reduce the heat island effect, increase biodiversity, and foster well-being. This includes:Â
- Increasing green spaces across campusesÂ
- Harnessing the potential for nature-based solutions to climate changeÂ
- Prioritizing biodiversity and native speciesÂ
Community Building
A central part of 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ is building connections amongst its community members and integrating social sustainability in all areas of the University. 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ aims to create a diverse, vibrant, and rich community where all feel a sense of belonging. This includes:Â
- Amplifying programs that foster a culture of sustainability Â
- Increasing Indigenous representation and inputÂ
- Supporting well-being and inclusion of diverse voicesÂ
Waste Management
Waste management at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ refers to proper management (reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting) of waste. This means responsible consumption and disposal at the University, following the principles of a circular economy. This includes:Â
- Enhancing sustainable procurement practicesÂ
- Reducing water and energy use  Â
- Bolstering sustainability in food and dining practices Â
- Minimizing waste through optimizing the institution’s reduction, collection, and sorting practicesÂ
Have a question about the strategy consultation process? Don't hesitate to email us at strategy.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca. For general information about sustainability at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ, explore our website, including the FAQ page, or take the 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Sustainability Module.