| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.99 |
| Liaison | Mary-Lee Townsend |
| Submission Date | Oct. 20, 2021 |
Western University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Mary-Lee
Townsend Sustainability & Compliance Manager Sustainability Office |
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
GOAL 3: Every student entering Western will have the opportunity to be exposed to the theory and practice of sustainability.
GOAL 4: Students seeking expertise and knowledge in sustainability will have access to curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
GOAL 5: Opportunities will be made available to the entire Western community, and beyond, to acquire education and experience in sustainability topics of interest and
relevance.
GOAL 6: Western will encourage and pursue research that promotes sustainability efforts and knowledge at the local, regional and international levels.
GOAL 7: Innovative partnerships will be developed across Western academic disciplines to research and propose solutions to societies most pressing sustainability challenges.
GOAL 8: External collaboration will be encouraged to increase opportunities for trans-disciplinary sustainability research and raise awareness on the scope of Western’s research activities in fields of sustainability.
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
GOAL 1: Every member of the Western community - including students, faculty and staff - will have the opportunity for a sustainable working, living and learning environment.
GOAL 2: The profile of sustainability will be elevated on campus,
inviting campus-wide collaboration and engagement.
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
GOAL 9: Western will begin the transition towards a low-carbon campus, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
GOAL 10 :Western will engage in a campus-wide effort to become a Zero Waste campus.
GOAL 11 : Western will enhance ecosystem services on campus while supporting alternative lifestyles.
GOAL 12: Western will endeavour to purchase products and services that meet a comprehensive range of sustainability criteria.
GOAL 13: Western will solicit and support the development of green
infrastructure on campus.
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Western became a signatory to Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities, at the same time as its board of governors adopted a strategy that would see the university shift up to 10 per cent of Operating & Endowment Fund investments to sustainable investment strategies. In September 2020, 2.5 per cent of assets were invested into a renewable infrastructure fund as the first part of that strategy.
Western's Office of Indigenous Initiatives has published The University's Indigenous Strategic Plan, which outlines the following objectives:
Strengthen and build relationships with Indigenous communities
Nurture an inclusive campus culture that values Indigenous Peoples, perspectives and ways of knowing
Enhance Indigenous students’ experiences
Achieve excellence in Indigenous research and scholarship
Excel in Indigenous teaching and learning
Indigenize Western’s institutional practices and spaces
Become a university of choice for Indigenous students
Increase representation of Indigenous staff and faculty members
You can view the Indigenous Strategic Plan here: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/
Western University's Mental Health Plan was created to create a university campus that is resilient and cares about mental health and wellness, where students receive support as needed, where talking and learning about mental health reduces and eliminates the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and where we build a more supportive and inclusive campus environment to enhance all students’ potential for success. Goals/priorities include:
- To cultivate institutional commitment for student mental health at all levels of the university
- To sustain and strengthen student resiliency
- To increase knowledge and awareness of mental health prevention
- To advance practice and policy that promote resiliency and wellness
- To increase capacity and accessibility to support and provide service to students with mental health conditions
- To improve and increase access to mental health and wellness prevention and intervention data
To read more on Western University's Mental Health Plan, please visit: https://www.uwo.ca/health/mentalhealthplan.html
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
Western aspires to lead in the creation of a more just society.
We will renew our campus, strengthen our partnership with London, create a more sustainable future, and engage the world.
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Drawing from Western’s Policy on Environment and Sustainability, a sustainable campus is defined as one that “promotes the smallest possible ecological footprint by promoting a healthy ecosystem and supporting the values of conservation.
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | --- |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | --- |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | --- |
| Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | --- |
| SDG Accord | --- |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | --- |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | Yes |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
The Paris Pledge
Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.