British Columbia Institute of Technology
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The BCIT Strategic Plan (2019-2024) charts our direction and outlines a roadmap for implementation across three key commitments to make BCIT a people-focused organization that delivers future-proof applied education while amplifying our impact through globally relevant connections. BCIT regularly evaluates performance in achieving these milestones and provides regular updates on progress: https://www.bcit.ca/strategic-plan/action/.

The Sustainability Vision (https://www.bcit.ca/sustainability-vision/) launched in 2020 extends this action with strategies that map to each of the Strategic Plan commitments and initiatives.

Strategic Plan Commitment 2 on Future-Proof Applied Education includes:

• Initiative 6: Cultivate exceptional learning environments and communities through technology and sustainable campus development.

Sustainability Vision measurable objectives that confirm our intention to embed sustainability in our education and applied research activities:

• Strategy 4: Renewal and development of curriculum and credentials that integrate sustainability across BCIT programs.
• Strategy 5: Channeling of applied research to advance knowledge and practice in areas in which BCIT can contribute to meaningful socio-ecological change.
• Strategy 6: Harmonization of built and natural learning systems and spaces that transform our campuses as living labs.

Some accomplishments based on measurable sustainability objectives in 2022-23 related to academics and applied research include:

• Launched three self-directed learning modules on Human Rights 101, Relearning Gender, and Anti-Racism Training to further awareness and conversation around respect, diversity, and inclusion.
• Secured funding for and commenced implementation of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Partnership Grant to fund nine BCIT graduate students over the next six years in ecological footprinting at the urban scale.
• Significantly expanded BCIT’s microcredential offerings, with over 60 programs and courses now available. Examples of new sustainability-focused microcredentials include:
  • Circular Economy: Zero Waste Buildings
  • Drone Applications for Environmental Risk Assessment
  • Essentials of Natural Resource and Environmental Protection
  • Principles of Regenerative Building
  • Environmental, Social, and Governance ESG Fundamentals

There are several measurable objectives related to engagement in the Strategic Plan (2019-2024) and Sustainability Vision:

Strategic Plan 

• Initiative 7: Infuse Indigenous knowledge and practices throughout the organization and within our partnerships to mobilize broader societal change.
• Initiative 8: Reinvent how we work with industry and peers to drive economic, social, and environmental prosperity in British Columbia and beyond.
• Initiative 9: Foster and sustain an open, engaged, and multicultural community of BCIT learners, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Sustainability Vision

• Strategy 7: Accountability reporting through active participation in post-secondary sustainability.
• Strategy 8: Development of the Ecocity Centre to advance BCIT research and leadership.
• Strategy 9: Facilitation of dialogue and mobilization of collective action, both internally and beyond, to embed and advance the sustainability agenda.

Some accomplishments based on measurable sustainability objectives in 2022-23 related to engagement include: 

• Supported 30 British Columbia municipalities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and ecological footprints, including development of 10 action plans.
•  Engaged faculty, staff and students in our accountability reporting process towards submitting our second STARS report in 2024.
• Represented BCIT at Ecocity World Summit, London, England, through presentations by faculty and staff of operational and academic sustainability expertise.
• Continued advancement of the Indigenous Vision. Together with the BCIT community, we continue to host the We Will Always Remember campaign, Orange Shirt Day with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to honour Indigenous history and remember the lives lost and impacted by residential schools. We continually seek to introduce Indigenous Youth to BCIT through tours and hosting urban Indigenous youth at our annual Indigenous Youth Gathering in May.

There are several measurable objectives related to operations in the Strategic Plan (2019-2024), Sustainability Vision, and campus development plans.

Strategic Plan

• Initiative 3: Redesign processes, systems, and structures to enhance our agility and effectiveness and to embed sustainability.
• Initiative 6. Cultivate exceptional learning environments and communities through technology and sustainable campus development.

Sustainability Vision

• Strategy 1: Changes in day-to-day practice that support our people in reducing their environmental footprints
• Strategy 2: Demonstrably sustainable procurement of goods and services across BCIT, in partnership with our suppliers
• Strategy 6: Harmonization of built and natural learning systems and spaces that transform our campuses as living labs.

BCIT’s Campus Plan includes a key goal dedicated to developing a sustainable campus through several measurable objectives related to operations:

• Increasing transit, walking, and cycling and reduce single-occupant vehicle trips.
• Adopting targets and guidelines for sustainable buildings and infrastructure.
• Improving recycling and waste management systems.
• Increasing use of renewable energy.
• Protecting and daylighting Guichon Creek.

BCIT’s Campus Design Guidelines outline the design considerations to ensure the physical campus serves sustainability operational goals.

Some accomplishments based on measurable sustainability objectives in 2022-23 related to operations include:

• Initiated development of a climate and sustainability risk framework. This will help BCIT prepare for inbound impacts – such as those from more unpredictable and severe weather events – and better assess the outbound impacts of our own activities. The framework will also help us keep up with rapidly evolving climate modelling and emerging requirements in climate risk and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting.
• Completed a heat recovery project at the Downtown Campus. This cools BCIT’s server room as well as new technology in the Tech Collider and repurposes the heat to warm classrooms and other spaces. This resulted in a 20% reduction in Downtown Campus carbon emissions. More information on this project can be found in PRE-2 Points of Distinction.
• Revitalized the Burnaby Campus through ongoing work under the Campus Development Plan. A key driver of the plan is to demonstrate sustainability best practices:
  • The Health Sciences Centre welcomed its first cohort of students in Fall 2022. Its design prioritized the health and well-being of its occupants and features flexible modern learning spaces, sustainable materials and systems, electric vehicle charging stalls in parkade spaces, as well as Indigenous design elements – all examples of features that will be prominent in future capital projects.
  • The adjacent Student Plaza and gateway to the Burnaby Campus was completed in Spring 2023 and is an important milestone in the journey to make the campus more pedestrian friendly. The Student Plaza also features Indigenous design elements and provides a unified centre for the Burnaby Campus and an open-air social space for the BCIT community to enjoy.
• Finalized design to replace a Central Heating Plant with a low-carbon electric and natural gas heating system, which will be the capstone initiative to BCIT achieving our 33% GHG emission reduction target.

There are several measurable objectives in the Strategic Plan (2019-2024) and Sustainability Vision related to planning and administration, particularly diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Strategic Plan

• Initiative 1: Strengthen support and services for learners to promote success, well-being, and resilience.
• Initiative 2: Invest in faculty and staff development to advance our practice and encourage a dynamic culture of learning.
• Initiative 3: Redesign processes, systems, and structures to enhance our agility and effectiveness and to embed sustainability.
• Initiative 6. Cultivate exceptional learning environments and communities through technology and
• sustainable campus development.
• Initiative 7: Infuse Indigenous knowledge and practices throughout the organization and within our partnerships to mobilize broader societal change.
• Initiative 8: Reinvent how we work with industry and peers to drive economic, social, and environmental prosperity in British Columbia and beyond.
• Initiative 9: Foster and sustain an open, engaged, and multicultural community of BCIT learners, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Sustainability Vision

• Strategy 1: Changes in day-to-day practice that support our people in reducing their environmental footprints.
• Strategy 2: Demonstrably sustainable procurement of goods and services across BCIT, in partnership with our suppliers.
• Strategy 3: Steady evolution in governance processes to signal and ensure institutional focus on sustainability.
• Strategy 5: Channeling of applied research to advance knowledge and practice in areas in which BCIT can contribute to meaningful socio-ecological change
• Strategy 6: Harmonization of built and natural learning systems and spaces that transform our campuses as living labs
• Strategy 7: Accountability reporting through active participation in post-secondary sustainability programs
• Strategy 8: Development of the Ecocity Centre to advance BCIT research and leadership Sustainability Vision Strategy 9: Facilitation of dialogue and mobilization of collective action, both internally and beyond, to embed and advance the sustainability agenda

Some accomplishments based on measurable sustainability objectives in 2022-23 related to administration include:

• Ongoing advancement of the Indigenous Vision. We are guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Actions, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, and the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework and Action Plan: 2020 Vision for the Future by the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training. The Strategic Plan was developed in parallel with the formalization of BCIT’s Indigenous Vision. The two are mutually reinforcing; together they provide a framework for action and accountability. We continue to work in collaboration with Student Services, Schools, Department Heads, and faculty on creating Reconciliation Action Plans, curriculum enhancement, and program and course development.
• The People Vision launched in January 2022 to support the BCIT Strategic Plan commitment to being a people-focused organization. It lists five focus areas that help capture the Institute’s commitment to support our people. These focus areas are Talent, Wellness, Empowerment, Accountability, and Connectedness. Priorities were identified for each of the focus areas and the 2022 BCIT Employee Experience Survey questions were aligned with them in order to assess our progress.
• Released the BCIT Accessibility Plan in 2023. More information can be found in IN-50 Innovation D.

Policy 1010 Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability is approved by the BCIT Board of Governors and serves as an umbrella policy to guide the development and implementation of new policies and programs that will advance sustainability at BCIT.

Policy Statement

BCIT’s commitment to sustainability encompasses advancing the state of practice through education and research, improving campus operations and planning, and strengthening employee and student stewardship and wellness programs.

BCIT encourages all members of the Institute community to carry out their duties in a manner that supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

BCIT aims to advance its educational mandate within the limitations of the natural environment and through fair and equitable work practices that include consideration of full‐cost accounting for local and global impacts on individuals and society.

BCIT strives to use our facilities and operations as a vehicle for learning, teaching, and living the principles of sustainability. Seven aspirational sustainability goals help guide our progress to become:

1. Greenhouse gas neutral (i.e., avoid, reduce, absorb, offset emissions)
2. A net energy producer (i.e., generate more energy on campus than we use)
3. A Zero waste organization (i.e., rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle, and eliminate toxics)
4. Water balanced (i.e., staying within the capacity of natural hydrological flows)
5. Ecologically restored (i.e., restoration of campus ecosystems and native species)
6. Equitable and socially responsible
7. Accessible and safe to all students, faculty, employees, alumni, contractors, and visitors

We define sustainability as “enabling people to lead socially just lives within ecological limits.” While efforts in the past have focused primarily around the environment, our definition reflects the interdependencies between the environment and society. We are working to reposition sustainability in this broader context throughout our community.

Following in the steps of the BCIT Student Association (BCITSA), BCIT became a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord in 2022. BCIT submitted its first SDG Accord report in spring 2023.

“Signing on to this crucial Accord advances BCIT’s commitment to the development of sustainability skills through access to campus infrastructure and information, demonstration of leading-edge technologies and equipment, and opportunities to conceptualize, design, and implement solutions for global sustainability,” said BCIT Past President Kathy Kinloch. “I am proud of all the work being done across BCIT, and particularly within our Centre for Ecocities, to enable people to lead socially just lives within our ecological limits.”