Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.15
Liaison Drew Dullen
Submission Date Nov. 24, 2020

STARS v2.2

Brock University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 4.00 Amanda Smits
Centre Administrator
Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:

Brock University’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) published a Strategic Plan 2018-2023 that focuses on advancing environmental sustainability locally and globally through excellence in research and education. Three complementary objectives guide the ESRC and the corresponding activities that will be undertaken during the next five years.

- To encourage research excellence in environmental sustainability by faculty, libraries and students.
- To enable enriching educational experiences in environmental sustainability.
- To engage in knowledge mobilization and foster knowledge impacts.

https://brocku.ca/esrc/wp-content/uploads/sites/75/Brock_ESRC_Strategic_Plan_2018-2023_web.pdf


Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:

Energy awareness and communication is one of the 5 objectives set within the Brock Energy Conservation and Demand Management (ECDM) 2016 plan. Brock University has set to engage the community to maximize benefits of the objectives demonstrated within the ECDM. The following initiatives are underway to provide on-going communication and seek input from all members of the Brock Community:

- Collaborating with Brock’s Sustainability Committee to develop a communication plan and engagement strategy to be rolled out to entire Brock community
- Generating annual updates of the Energy Performance Scorecard, which will then be distributed to the Brock Community
- Completing annual waste audits and communicating the results and successes
- Creating and implementing Solid Waste Reduction Action Plans and a Solid Waste Management Policy
- Providing strategically located dashboards on-campus that provide information on baseline building energy consumption data and encourage the engagement of stakeholders
- Providing energy awareness and management training opportunities for Facilities Management staff across all disciplines
- Providing forums for engaging the Brock Community to share energy and water conservation ideas
- Engaging Horizon Utilities to explore the opportunity for an Embedded Energy Manager (EEM)
- Conducting energy audits for Brock buildings and integrating the results into the annual Capital Planning process

Website & Social Media:
The new Sustainability at Brock website launched in 2016. Social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram platforms were created in May 2018 to share information about research, programs, news, and events. The team of student staff members hired via the Brock University Project Charter engage in writing news stories, creating videos, and social media posts. Engagement will be monitored through the number of likes, page visits, retweets, and shares received on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram respectively.

https://brocku.ca/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2018-362-MAESD-Sustainability-Plan-FINAL-digital-REV.pdf


Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:

Brock University published an Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan in 2019, which outlines the objectives created and updated in accordance with Brock’s commitment to energy management and the priorities of the University. The goals of this plan are the following:

1. Generation: Improving the efficiency and diversity of on-site energy generation;
2. Operations: Smart and efficient building operations and renewal;
3. Procurement: Leveraging strategic and collaborative procurement of energy and carbon instruments;
4. Education: Raising awareness and promoting engagement of the Brock Community in energy conservation;
5. Buildings: Energy efficient design, construction, and renovation of buildings.

The following goals will support the implementation of measures that will help achieve Brock University’s objectives.

a. Demonstrate leadership in energy and GHG emissions management in the sector, increasing the participation of the Brock Community in energy and emission reduction efforts;
b. Reduce GHG emission intensity (GHGEI) by 20% below 2013 baseline levels by 2023;
c. Maintain a cost-effective, reliable, and resilient energy supply to campus;
d. Enhance energy and data management processes to maximize opportunities for conservation and efficiency;
e. Improve the operation of existing buildings and design new buildings to be energy efficient while incorporating alternative and low-carbon sources of energy.

https://brocku.ca/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2019-559-ECDM-Report-Update.v1.pdf


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?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:

Brock University’s Canada Research Chairs Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan, submitted to the Canada Research Chairs Secretariat, June 2020, addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI). The Plan outlines how Brock University’s institutional supports for existing, nominated, and future Chairholders are, and will continue to be, in compliance with the Canada Research Chairs Program and other accepted provincial, federal, and community practices for supporting EDI.

Five identified goals are the foundation for this EDI Action Plan:

1. Ensure Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are Embedded in Institutional Strategic Planning
2. Collect Current and Relevant Data Regarding the Needs of Designated Employment Equity-Seeking Groups
3. Increase Diversity Across the Complement of Canada Research Chairholders
4. Create a Supportive and Inclusive Workplace for Chairholders
5. Support Indigenous Scholars and Indigenous Engagement

https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2019/05/brock-endorses-new-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-charter/
https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/Employment-Equity-Policy.pdf


Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

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?:
Minor theme

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?:
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:

PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - From the Brock University Sustainability Plan

Brock is a comprehensive university with its main campus in a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve (BR). Our location informs our relationship to the environment and commitment to environmental sustainability through our transdisciplinary approach to supporting student success, regional economic growth, and community development.

Environmental sustainability is fundamental to everything we do at Brock! This report conveys our achievements regarding environmental sustainability and our balanced approach to supporting Ontario’s future. As per the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofit Program (GGCRP), it specifically communicates what we are doing in our efforts towards: energy conservation and GHG emission reduction; environmental sustainability management; and, education for sustainability.

Brock University is making the decisions today for a sustainable and vibrant future tomorrow. We are contributing to post-secondary education; student academic and professional development; research and innovation; regional community vitality, along with our commitment to environmental sustainability; and economic competitiveness. We look forward to building upon our current efforts. In moving forward, we will broadly engage the Brock community and thereby advance environmental sustainability across our functions in innovative and exciting ways.


The institution’s definition of sustainability:

Brock’s Sustainability Policy defines sustainability as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.


Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter No
Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability No
SDG Accord No
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment No
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
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:

Brock University was a formal signatory on the Council of Ontario Universities Going Greener Pledge in 2009. In 2009, when this pledge was signed, Brock was one of 17 universities in Ontario who had implemented a formal written policy and was also a signatory the declaration of commitment to promote environmental sustainability or stewardship.

https://brocku.ca/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/Sustainability-Policy-CIC-approved-March-9-2016.pdf

An update to the policy (linked above) is currently in the review/approval process.


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:

Brock’s highest guiding document is the Brock University Strategic Plan, which references stewardship and not sustainability as a guiding value. This plan outlines 8 guiding values that demonstrate Brock’s commitment to make a positive difference in the lives of our students, staff, faculty and communities on a daily basis. One of the guiding values is sustainable, accountable, and transparent stewardship; this guiding value notes the role that Brock University plays as stewards of public and private resources, as well as accountability for our performance, and ensuring we evaluate the impact of our actions on our human, financial and environmental resources to guarantee that the outcomes will be sustainable and form a solid academic foundation for our future scholarly endeavours.


Brock’s highest guiding document is the Brock University Strategic Plan, which references stewardship and not sustainability as a guiding value. This plan outlines 8 guiding values that demonstrate Brock’s commitment to make a positive difference in the lives of our students, staff, faculty and communities on a daily basis. One of the guiding values is sustainable, accountable, and transparent stewardship; this guiding value notes the role that Brock University plays as stewards of public and private resources, as well as accountability for our performance, and ensuring we evaluate the impact of our actions on our human, financial and environmental resources to guarantee that the outcomes will be sustainable and form a solid academic foundation for our future scholarly endeavours.

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.