| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.26 |
| Liaison | Karen Oberer |
| Submission Date | Jan. 17, 2024 |
McGill University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Karen
Oberer Sustainability Officer McGill Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Sustainability committee(s)
Yes
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility is mandated to assist the Board in setting and achieving institutional priorities and goals, and in monitoring progress in the area of sustainability. Taking due regard of the University’s mission and the fiduciary duties of the Board, the Committee shall also advise the Board on matters concerning social responsibility related to University investments within the mandate of the Investment Committee of the Board.
The McGill Advisory Council on Sustainability is mandated to position McGill as a leading institution in North America on sustainability by contributing to the implementation and evolution of McGill’s Sustainability Strategy, and related plans, policies, and performance indicators. The Council provides a forum for faculty, staff, students and members-at-large to provide advice on McGill campuses’ sustainability initiatives.
The McGill Advisory Council on Sustainability is mandated to position McGill as a leading institution in North America on sustainability by contributing to the implementation and evolution of McGill’s Sustainability Strategy, and related plans, policies, and performance indicators. The Council provides a forum for faculty, staff, students and members-at-large to provide advice on McGill campuses’ sustainability initiatives.
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
McGill Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility
The Committee shall consist of eight to ten members, exclusive of ex officio members, selected from the following categories:
- Board members and Governors Emeriti:
- four from among:
- At-large members of the Board (at least one)
- Alumni Association members of the Board
- Governors Emeriti.
- three from among:
- Academic Staff or Senate members of the Board
- Administrative and Support Staff members of the Board
- Student members or observers of the Board.
- A member of the Board Investment Committee.
- Members of the general public:
- up to two members of the general public with expertise in sustainability, climate, the environment, socially responsible investment or a related field.
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/boardofgovernors/committees-0/board-standing-committees/social
McGill Advisory Council on Sustainability
The Council is made up of senior administrative representatives, faculty members, students and members-at-large.
The Council has 18 participants. A combination of expertise, interest, and capacity to act on the topics included in McGill’s Sustainability Strategy is fundamental criteria to appoint members. All the Council members will be appointed by the Chair, except for the 3 student representatives.
Membership includes:
- 5 staff representatives , including:
- The Committee Chair, namely the Executive Director of Sustainability;
- The Vice-Principal, Administration and Finance (ex officio)
- The Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) (ex officio)
- 2 senior administrators.
- 4 faculty members, preferably senior academic leaders;
- 1 indigenous representative;
- 3 student representatives;
- 5 members-at-large with significant expertise in sustainability governance and policy, representing a variety of sectors (government, non-governmental, private, etc.).
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/files/sustainability/advisory_council_-_terms_of_ref_2020_0.pdf
The Committee shall consist of eight to ten members, exclusive of ex officio members, selected from the following categories:
- Board members and Governors Emeriti:
- four from among:
- At-large members of the Board (at least one)
- Alumni Association members of the Board
- Governors Emeriti.
- three from among:
- Academic Staff or Senate members of the Board
- Administrative and Support Staff members of the Board
- Student members or observers of the Board.
- A member of the Board Investment Committee.
- Members of the general public:
- up to two members of the general public with expertise in sustainability, climate, the environment, socially responsible investment or a related field.
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/boardofgovernors/committees-0/board-standing-committees/social
McGill Advisory Council on Sustainability
The Council is made up of senior administrative representatives, faculty members, students and members-at-large.
The Council has 18 participants. A combination of expertise, interest, and capacity to act on the topics included in McGill’s Sustainability Strategy is fundamental criteria to appoint members. All the Council members will be appointed by the Chair, except for the 3 student representatives.
Membership includes:
- 5 staff representatives , including:
- The Committee Chair, namely the Executive Director of Sustainability;
- The Vice-Principal, Administration and Finance (ex officio)
- The Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) (ex officio)
- 2 senior administrators.
- 4 faculty members, preferably senior academic leaders;
- 1 indigenous representative;
- 3 student representatives;
- 5 members-at-large with significant expertise in sustainability governance and policy, representing a variety of sectors (government, non-governmental, private, etc.).
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/files/sustainability/advisory_council_-_terms_of_ref_2020_0.pdf
Sustainability office(s)
Yes
A brief description of each sustainability office:
Established in 2010, the McGill Office of Sustainability embeds climate action and sustainability into all of the University’s activities. It engages, supports, and connects students, staff, and faculty by providing strategic guidance and resources to foster a sustainable community.
The Office of Sustainability stewards the Sustainability Projects Fund, oversees the implementation of the McGill University Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025, and facilitates a variety of sustainability engagement programs for students, staff, and faculty members, including:
- Sustainable Workplace Certification,
- Sustainable Events Certification,
- Sustainable Labs Certification
- Staff Gardens, and
- Sustainability Ambassador Program.
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/learn/sustainability-mcgill/office-sustainability
The Office of Sustainability stewards the Sustainability Projects Fund, oversees the implementation of the McGill University Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025, and facilitates a variety of sustainability engagement programs for students, staff, and faculty members, including:
- Sustainable Workplace Certification,
- Sustainable Events Certification,
- Sustainable Labs Certification
- Staff Gardens, and
- Sustainability Ambassador Program.
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/learn/sustainability-mcgill/office-sustainability
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
11
Sustainability officer(s)
Yes
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
S. Watt, Assoc. Dir.; K. Houser, Assoc. Dir.; M. Toth, Sust Officer, SPF Admin; K. Oberer, Sust Officer, Sust Reporting; D. Sharma, Climate/Biodiversity Officer; J. Latus, Sust Officer, Sust Strategy; K. John, Sust Officer, Sust labs; P. Garber, Sust Off.
Institution-wide coordination
Yes
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
2023: Over the course of 2023, the Office of Sustainability developed a new engagement program, the Sustainable Labs Certification program, which was soft launched over Summer 2023 and will be officially launched in Fall. The certification is divided into eight categories that target a range of actions lab users can take to make their operations more sustainable: community building, waste management, energy conservation, water conservation, procurement and asset management, green chemistry, animal research, and travel and fieldwork.
2022: In Fall 2022, Climate Crisis & Climate Actions was made available to all undergraduate students. The course is designed to provide students with opportunities to learn the skills necessary for individual and collective actions to address climate change. McGill is the only U15 university to have both an online module and a course offering open to all students focused on sustainability and climate change.
2021-2022: In order to make significant progress on the university’s Zero-Waste long-term target, McGill further developed its waste infrastructure. 200 new multi-stream waste sorting stations were installed on the downtown and Macdonald campuses in 2021-2022. There are now over 700 standardized bins installed on the campuses. In addition, organic waste collection was expanded over 27 buildings between 2021 and 2022; more than 200 tonnes of organic waste was diverted from landfill last year. In previous consultations, organic waste disposal was an area of high concern with the McGill community, so the expansion of compost services directly addresses this concern.
2020: The Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025 was launched in December 2020. The result of a community-wide consultation process, the Strategy identifies three longterm targets and a total of 62 actions— including 8 flagship actions—to implement. The eight categories span the University’s activities in research, education, operations, and community engagement. The document outlines ways that community members can get involved and sets out a plan for implementation as well as for monitoring and reporting. As of Oct. 2023, the Strategy is 71% complete.
2022: In Fall 2022, Climate Crisis & Climate Actions was made available to all undergraduate students. The course is designed to provide students with opportunities to learn the skills necessary for individual and collective actions to address climate change. McGill is the only U15 university to have both an online module and a course offering open to all students focused on sustainability and climate change.
2021-2022: In order to make significant progress on the university’s Zero-Waste long-term target, McGill further developed its waste infrastructure. 200 new multi-stream waste sorting stations were installed on the downtown and Macdonald campuses in 2021-2022. There are now over 700 standardized bins installed on the campuses. In addition, organic waste collection was expanded over 27 buildings between 2021 and 2022; more than 200 tonnes of organic waste was diverted from landfill last year. In previous consultations, organic waste disposal was an area of high concern with the McGill community, so the expansion of compost services directly addresses this concern.
2020: The Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025 was launched in December 2020. The result of a community-wide consultation process, the Strategy identifies three longterm targets and a total of 62 actions— including 8 flagship actions—to implement. The eight categories span the University’s activities in research, education, operations, and community engagement. The document outlines ways that community members can get involved and sets out a plan for implementation as well as for monitoring and reporting. As of Oct. 2023, the Strategy is 71% complete.
Optional Fields
Job description (1st position)
Climate and Biodiversity Officer
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
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Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Supports McGill on its path to carbon neutrality by 2040 through various climate action projects on campus, including producing the University’s annual greenhouse gas inventory with Utilities & Energy Management. The Climate and Biodiversity Officer also coordinates the implementation of McGill's biodiversity plan.
Job description (2nd position)
Sustainability Officer - SPF Steward
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
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Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Stewards the Sustainability Projects Fund and facilitates its Governance Council meetings. Helps SPF applicants develop their project ideas and guides project teams in the successful execution of their initiatives. Runs the Sustainable Workplace Certification program to foster positive change in McGill office spaces.
Job description (3rd position)
Sustainability Officer - Monitoring and Reporting
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
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Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Monitors and reports on McGill's sustainability advancements by working with partners from across the University. Contributes directly to McGill's long term target of attaining a STARS Platinum rating. Manages other internal and external monitoring and reporting tasks as needed.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.