ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ is committed to advancing sustainability and fighting climate change by continuously working to improve our operations and decrease our environmental footprint.
While growing the size of our campus and student population, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ has invested $30M towards energy reduction projects on campus and reduced 35% greenhouse gas emissions from facilities and operations.
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ approach to sustainability extends beyond its emission reduction efforts. In providing access to dedicated environmental research and educational opportunities, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ is fostering the growth of the next generation of sustainability champions. Taken together, these initiatives can enable Kingston to envision and realize a more sustainable future.
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ is a designated Fair Trade Campus, working to support sustainable practices for agricultural workers and the environment.
In 2019, Sustainable Kingston awarded ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ Hospitality Services its Organizational Sustainability Champion award for the university’s efforts to champion food security, environmental stewardship, and climate action.
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ is dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ students contribute to the 40% of Kingston Transit ridership made up of post-secondary students, as of 2019.
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ diverted 33% of its waste in 2018/19, resulting in 1,195 tonnes of recyclables and organics diverted from landfill.
Initiatives
Sustainable living
Since 2008, the ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ Sustainability Office has advanced the university’s green initiatives, including fostering collaboration opportunities across campus and enhancing awareness of issues in the community. A critical aspect of the Office’s role is encouraging sustainable living choices in the ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ community.
Regular waste audits
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ conducts regular waste audits to understand where its reduction and diversion initiatives may be falling short. The diversion rate (a measure of total waste diverted or avoided) for 2018-2019 was 33%, resulting in 1,195 tonnes of recyclables diverted from landfill.
Sustainable practices
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ is a designated Fair Trade Campus, working to support sustainable practices for agricultural workers and the environment.
Student-led initiatives
Student-led grassroots initiatives, such as Soul Food, The Tea Room, and the Earth Centre, are providing the Kingston community new ways of buying and using resources, helping Kingston to live more sustainably.
Sustainable Development Goals
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ ranked 1st in Canada and 5th in the world in the 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, a global ranking of universities that are advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within and beyond their local communities.
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ Sustainability Office
Advancing the university’s green initiatives, including fostering collaboration opportunities across campus and enhancing awareness of issues in the community, as well as encouraging sustainable living among the ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ community.
The Tea Room
A student-run organization established in 2006, the Tea Room is an environmentally friendly and socially conscious cafe located in Beamish-Munro Hall. The cafe provides the ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ and Kingston community with the option of buying environmentally responsible food and drinks, sourced from local vendors.
The Earth Centre
A student club, The Earth Centre grants the ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ and Kingston community convenient access to inexpensive environmentally friendly products and information through its library and sustainability-focused shop.
Kingston Transit Partnership
ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ students, staff, and faculty have partnered with Kingston Transit to provide discounted ridership to the ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ community, promoting transit use and therefore reducing CO2 emissions. 480 faculty and staff participate in the City of Kingston’s Transpass program and post-secondary students, including ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ students, represent up to 40% of Kingston transit users.