University of Ottawa
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The University has made a concerted effort to include sustainability in its academic mission, both as an institution at large and at the faculty level through the acquisition of grants and chairs related to environmental sustainability.

The University of Ottawa's Strategic Academic Plan for 2020-2030 includes as one of its four key pillars, Sustainability. Underneath this pillar, there are objectives related sustainability research for the institution.
https://transformation2030.uottawa.ca/en/sustainable

In the University of Ottawa's Climate report, the University pledged to invest $2M to create a Clean Innovation Research Fund. In 2020, the University met and exceeded that goal which is allowing the University to conduct research on the Green Economy and Photonics.
https://sustainable.uottawa.ca/working-community

In the new Campus Sustainability Plan, the University is looking to establish a learning community, increasing the amount of sustainability related learning opportunities in every faculty and service by 2030.
https://sustainable.uottawa.ca/experiential-learning

The University of Ottawa's Campus Sustainability Plan calls for objectives to increase community service learning and experiential learning related to sustainability.
50% of all faculties and services engaged by 2025
100% of all faculties and services engaged by 2030

https://sustainable.uottawa.ca/sustainability-plan

In the University of Ottawa's Campus Sustainability Plan, there are several objectives that address operational issues. for example.
Become a carbon neutral campus by 2040
Become a zero waste campus by 2050
Reduce total waste produced on campus by 30% by 2030

https://www2.uottawa.ca/about-us/president/sustainability
https://sustainable.uottawa.ca/sustainability-plan

In the University of Ottawa's bi-annual Climate Report, there are a series of objectives that are created under each VPs portfolio.
1. Establish measurements and a proper starting point to track shifts in long-term portfolio.
2. Identify and consider new indices and/or benchmarks that incorporate responsible investment principles, in addition to or in place of any of the above.
3. Carry out annual measurements of progress and report results to the University community.
4. Incorporate these results into the consideration and updating of investment portfolio policies.
5. Consider these results, to the extent it is appropriate, in evaluating fund managers’ performance.
6. Create a Clean Innovations Fund over time with an initial $10 million, using funds from the existing portfolios and donations received for this purpose.

The dangers of climate change and its repercussions for our planet are very real and have put climate awareness at the forefront of how many organizations conduct their business. As an institution of higher learning and a research intensive university, the University of Ottawa has a crucial role in raising
awareness and understanding of climate change, as well as a responsibility to take positive and meaningful action. Through our collective activities, we are taking important steps forward each year to help address climate change and to increase our momentum in creating a sustainable future.

Over the past years, the University of Ottawa has made several important commitments to help create a culture of sustainability. We signed the Montreal Carbon Pledge, vowed to reduce the carbon footprint of our investments in accordance with Canada’s national climate commitment, and implemented an Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy to support our efforts.

We recruited one of the world’s leading environmental economists, Carolyn Fischer, who holds the Canada 150 Research Chair in Climate Economics, Innovation and Policy, to position our university as a centre of excellence in environmental issues. And most recently, we made sustainability a key component of Transformation 2030.

While more remains to be done to ensure sustainability is deeply embedded across our campus, I am confident that the initiatives outlined in this report are helping to mobilize our institution and to integrate climate action throughout our academic programs, research activities and operations.

The University of Ottawa’s Sustainable Development Committee has adopted the 4C model of campus sustainability developed by Plymouth University to address different aspects of sustainability specific to a campus context. The 4Cs are as follows:

Campus – Everything involving procurement for and the physical aspects of the campus Community – Social relationships between community members on and off campus Culture – Values and policies forming the cultural foundation and influencing the governance of the campus
Curriculum – Academic pursuits, courses and research activities that constitute the body of knowledge on campus

The University of Ottawa is a signatory to the Halifax Declaration and the ‘Ontario Universities Committed to a Greener World’ pledge.

The University of Ottawa's website is being transitioned to a new content management system and some links may not be functioning properly. Please contact the Office of Campus Sustainability for a new link if there is a problem finding the information you are looking for.