Annual Sustainability Report

2013/14

Dr. John Robinson

Associate Provost, Sustainability

- President Drew Gilpin Faust, Harvard University

- President John Leroy Hennessy, Stanford University

- President Peter Salovey, Yale University

[Sustainability] is a problem in which the discovery and dissemination of knowledge will play a critical role. And it is a problem that must be faced … in ways that universities are uniquely suited to model.

…we have a responsibility to promote sustainability for our planet. Our goal is to lead the way—through research, educational programs and campus operations.

We have a responsibility to future generations to ensure that sustainable practices are at the heart of our university.

A Higher Education Imperative

20+ Years of Achievement

Signs the international TailloiresDeclaration

1990 1998

Canada's first university to adopt a sustainabledevelopment policy

20092007

2010

Meets Kyoto Protocol GHG reduction targets

Integrates sustainability as core pillar in UBC’s strategic plan

Sets bold targets to reduce GHG emissions

2011

Receives Canada’s first Gold rating in STARS

Develops Sustainability Academic Strategy

2009

Establishes sustainability office at UBC’s Okanagan campus

First Canadian university to open a Campus Sustainability Office

1996

2013

CIRS awarded LEED Platinum

Structure of the Report

Teaching, Learning and Research

5RESEARCH WORKING

GROUPS AT OKANAGAN

500+SUSTAINABILITY

RELATED COURSES

40+SUSTAINABILITY

RELATED ACADEMIC

PROGRAMS

USI FELLOWSHIP

PROGRAM

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

PATHWAY

SPOTLIGHT GRANTS

GREENEST CITY

INTERNSHIPS

Campus as a Living Lab

5OPERATIONAL

PROJECTS

896STUDENTS, FACULTY AND

STAFF ENGAGED THROUGH

SEEDS PROGRAM

3 PILOT PROJECTS

AT OKANAGAN

BIOENERGY RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FACILITY

CENTRE FOR INTERACTIVE RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABILITY

OKANAGAN REGION AS A LIVING LAB

Operations and Infrastructure

ZERO WASTE ACTION PLAN

INTEGRATED STORMWATER

MANAGEMENT PLAN

CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS

HIGH-PERFORMANCE

BUILDINGS

14% REDUCTION IN ABSOLUTE GHG EMISSIONS SINCE 2007

61% OVERALL WASTE DIVERSION RATE

8% REDUCTION IN GHG EMISSIONS PER STUDENT SINCE 2007

VANCOUVER CAMPUS OKANAGAN CAMPUS

Community

PONDEROSA COMMONS

HIGH-QUALITY AMENITIES

HOUSING ACTION PLAN

TRANSPORTATION

PLANNING

STUDENT BEDS AT

VANCOUVER

CAMPUS INCREASED

TO 10,041

71% OF VANCOUVER TRIPS

USE SUSTAINABLE

MODES OF TRANSPORT

54%OF OKANAGAN TRIPS

USE SUSTAINABLE

MODES OF TRANSPORT

Communications and Engagement

SUSTAINABILITY

PROGRAMS IN

RESIDENCES, OFFICES

AND LABS

SUSTAINABILITY COUNCILS

MEMORANDUMS OF

UNDERSTANDING

RIPPLE EFFECT UBC

3,000+STUDENTS ENGAGED

IN RESIDENCES

9+NATIONAL AND

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

200+RESEARCHERS

ENGAGED

2014/15 Key Priorities

• Continue engaging students and faculty in innovative

sustainability teaching, learning and research

• Advance operational activities that support the academic

mission and enable us to meet our sustainability targets

• Continue developing a sustainable community at an urban

neighbourhood scale

• Support the wellbeing initiative and social sustainability

• Develop a network of higher education, sustainability leaders

that influence change globally

NEXT

GENERATION

SUSTAINABILITY

AT UBC

Teaching, Learning and

Research

Operations and

Infrastructure

UBC Community

GoalTo simultaneously increase human and environmental wellbeing.

QuestionsFor what processes? At what scale?

What is the role of universities?

Overview

Engagement Process

5 FACULTY 4 STUDENTS

4 STAFF6 COMMUNITY

PARTNERS

STEERING COMMITTEE

Process Initiation

EngagementCompletion of

Strategy

Engagement Summary

2,000+ENGAGED

Musqueam Acknowledgement

Strategy developed in the spirit of respectful collaboration with the

Musqueam First Nation.

At UBC's Vancouver campus, sustainability means simultaneous improvements

in human and environmental wellbeing, not just reductions in damage or

harm. By 2035, such regenerative sustainability is embedded across the

University throughout teaching, learning, research, partnerships, operations

and infrastructure, and the UBC community. UBC is a vibrant, healthy and

resilient community, deeply engaged with its neighbours, surrounding region,

partners around the world, and in a supportive and mutually respectful

relationship with the Musqueam people.

Vision

Teaching, Learning and Research

• Sustainability learning pathways

• Preferred destination for students

• Sustainability research and scholarship excellence

Operations and Infrastructure

• Sustainability lens

• Integrated campus-scale systems

• Regenerative, net-positive sustainability

Community

• Affordable and diverse housing

• Wellbeing and social sustainability

• Sustainable live-work-learn community

• Integrated and sustainable food systems

Next Steps

• Advance innovative and globally significant sustainability curriculum

• Research and disseminate knowledge that impacts sustainability practices

• Develop an international network of higher education sustainability leaders

• Model simultaneous improvements in human and environmental wellbeing

• Continue our global leadership in sustainability