| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.40 |
| Liaison | Mary-Lee Townsend |
| Submission Date | Jan. 16, 2025 |
Western University
PA-2: Commitments and Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.73 / 6.00 |
2.1 Public sustainability commitment
Narrative detailing the institution’s guiding vision or goals for sustainability and the plan(s) in which they are published:
From Western's Strategic Plan - Towards Western at 150 (page 21) - https://strategicplan.uwo.ca/pdf/Western-Strategic-Report.pdf
"Sustainability is one of the grand challenges of our times. It particularly calls out for everyone to collaborate, innovate, experiment – to seek bold and brave solutions. The maxim “think globally, act locally” applies well to these challenges of sustainability. As a research-intensive university Western is already engaged in a broad swath of internationally significant research projects that link us to a sustainable universe in all of our faculties. At the same time, acting locally, members of the Western community participate in many projects in London and nearby that aim to preserve, protect, and nourish the local environs. Our students and faculty are deeply engaged in local social service agencies, schools, hospitals, and other sites of important community-engaged learning and research. In 2020 and in 2021, Western was recognized by the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking as one of the greatest contributors to sustainability research and teaching on the planet. The Western community wants greater visibility for these efforts, and wants to do more. We will model sustainable processes in our own operations and apply our research, teaching, learning, and community engagement to support London and Southwestern Ontario in our collective efforts to become the Canadian centre of gravity for sustainability thought leadership and the application of innovative sustainable practices. Western embraces its responsibility to be stewards of the natural environment. We will launch a collaborative research initiative that will make Western a Canadian and international leader in helping others with research to reduce their own carbon emissions. We commit to rethinking the care of our campus to encourage greater biodiversity, and to extend efforts to make our campus more of a laboratory for our academic community. We will pursue partnerships with local and regional municipalities whose own projects concentrate on challenges with areas such as water, waste, transportation, and biodiversity. For years, the university has pursued efforts to reduce its own carbon footprint. These include efforts from food waste to geothermal heating. We will continue to prioritize energy retrofits and maintain our commitment to sustainability for new construction with an aim of net-zero in new facilities. Western University will achieve net-zero emissions for campus operations by 2050 and at least a 45 per cent reduction (over 2005) by 2030. We will incorporate existing initiatives to reduce the impact of campus operations with new initiatives focused on green innovation."
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the institution’s external sustainability commitments that include a reporting requirement:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
2.2 Measurable sustainability objectives
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address teaching, learning, and research:
Sustainability is one of the grand challenges of our times. It particularly calls out for everyone to collaborate, innovate, experiment – to seek bold and brave solutions. The maxim “think globally, act locally” applies well to these challenges of sustainability. As a research-intensive university Western is already engaged in a broad swath of internationally significant research projects that link us to a sustainable universe in all of our faculties. At the same time, acting locally, members of the Western community participate in many projects in London and nearby that aim to preserve, protect, and nourish the local environs. Our students and faculty are deeply engaged in local social service agencies, schools, hospitals, and other sites of important community-engaged learning and research. In 2020 and in 2021, Western was recognized by the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking as one of the greatest contributors to sustainability research and teaching on the planet. The Western community wants greater visibility for these efforts, and wants to do more. We will model sustainable processes in our own operations and apply our research, teaching, learning, and community engagement to support London and Southwestern Ontario in our collective efforts to become the Canadian centre of gravity for sustainability thought leadership and the application of innovative sustainable practices. Western embraces its responsibility to be stewards of the natural environment. We will launch a collaborative research initiative that will make Western a Canadian and international leader in helping others with research to reduce their own carbon emissions. We commit to rethinking the care of our campus to encourage greater biodiversity, and to extend efforts to make our campus more of a laboratory for our academic community. We will pursue partnerships with local and regional municipalities whose own projects concentrate on challenges with areas such as water, waste, transportation, and biodiversity. For years, the university has pursued efforts to reduce its own carbon footprint. These include efforts from food waste to geothermal heating. We will continue to prioritize energy retrofits and maintain our commitment to sustainability for new construction with an aim of net-zero in new facilities. Western University will achieve net-zero emissions for campus operations by 2050 and at least a 45 per cent reduction (over 2005) by 2030. We will incorporate existing initiatives to reduce the impact of campus operations with new initiatives focused on green innovation.
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Milestones and metrics in Towards Western at 150 Western University Strategic Plan:
- Create learning opportunities for faculty and staff on important EDI practices, targeting a 90% participation
rate within 5 years
- Create a sustainability research fund (initially at $1 million) that prioritizes our local and regional
partnerships and that creates new experiential learning opportunities for students.
https://strategicplan.uwo.ca/pdf/WesternU-SP-Milestones-Metrics.pdf
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address stakeholder engagement?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address stakeholder engagement:
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address campus operations?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address campus operations:
Western University will achieve net-zero emissions for campus operations by 2050 and at least a 45 per cent reduction (over 2005) by 2030. We will incorporate existing initiatives to reduce the impact of campus operations with new initiatives focused on green innovation.
https://sustainability.uwo.ca/Campus/energy_carbon/ghg_emissions.html
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Milestones and metrics in Towards Western at 150 Western University Strategic Plan:
- Reduce carbon emissions for campus operations by 45% (over 2005) by 2030 and net-zero by 2050
https://strategicplan.uwo.ca/pdf/WesternU-SP-Milestones-Metrics.pdf
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address racial equity and social justice?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address racial equity and social justice:
Western University introduced a new EDIDA Strategic Plan in late 2024.
We are proud to share Western’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Accessibility (EDIDA) Strategic Plan: Advancing Inclusive Excellence, our collaborative roadmap to building a more inclusive Western community and campus.
The EDIDA Strategic Plan was created in robust consultation and extensive collaboration with the Western community and embodies Western’s commitment to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive community for all. Thousands of Western students, alumni, staff, faculty members and leaders shared their ideas, experiences and aspirations for the plan.
Our Vision: Fostering safe, accessible, and equitable places, spaces, and experiences where every person belongs and feels empowered to achieve their full potential at Western.
What do we hope to achieve with the EDIDA Strategic Plan?
Five outcome statements emerged directly from the thoughtful and comprehensive input provided by participants during our engagement processes.
- Western students, staff, faculty, leaders, alumni and visitors will feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging.
- Students, staff, faculty and leaders with disabilities will experience barrier-free, accessible environments and services at Western.
- Equity-deserving groups will be represented in Western's students, staff, faculty, librarians, archivists and leaders.
- Western's community, culture, policies and curriculum will reflect the values of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and demonstrate our collective commitment to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action and the Western Indigenous Strategic Plan.
- Western leaders will be active EDIDA practitioners and passionate champions for actively building a culture of inclusion and addressing inequality.
https://www.edi.uwo.ca/strategic-plan/
A full list of objectives are listed in the "Accountability Framework" section of the the EDIDA Strategic Plan.
https://www.edi.uwo.ca/strategic-plan/edida-strat-plan-updated-2025.pdf
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Milestones and metrics in Towards Western at 150 Western University Strategic Plan:
- Create learning opportunities for faculty and staff on important EDI practices, targeting a 90% participation
rate within 5 years
https://strategicplan.uwo.ca/pdf/WesternU-SP-Milestones-Metrics.pdf
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address administration and finance?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address administration and finance:
https://sustainability.uwo.ca/Campus/responsible_investing.html
In 2022 Western University's Investment Committee released its inaugural responsible investing annual report. The report focuses on Western's climate change ambitions and the need for long-term, sustained, decarbonization of our investments.
Western's responsible investment efforts began in 2009 by incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into formal manager reviews. Since then the work has intensified, especially over the last two years, including the completion of our first Total Portfolio carbon footprint and commitments to a 45% carbon intensity reduction by 2030, and net-zero by 2050 or sooner.
There are also interim milestones to ensure we are on track for 2030 and 2050 targets.From 2022-2024 the Investment Committee will commence/increase allocations to green solutions and consider climate transition benchmarks. By 2025 we plan to have invested 10% of the Operating and Endowment Fund in sustainable investment strategies.
One of the key principles for Western's Responsible Investing is transparency and reporting on our progress, meaning to be open and transparent with our stakeholders and report regularly on our progress and milestones achieved.
Going forward, Western is committed to:
- Investing 10% of the Operating & Endowment Fund in sustainable investment strategies by 2025
- Reducing our carbon intensity at least 45% by 2030
- Achieving net-zero absolute carbon emissions by 2050, or sooner
The second annual report, released in December 2022, highlights several of the activities underway supporting our responsible investing strategy. The 2022 report shows progress towards our decarbonization commitment, including a decrease in the weighted average carbon intensity of the Operating and Endowment Fund by 4.3% compared to our 2020 baseline, as well as a 38.6% year over year reduction of in the carbon emissions from the public portfolio.
Also included in this year's reporting is Western’s first disclosures under the Task Force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Framework.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
2.3 Climate resilience assessment and planning
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s climate resilience assessment:
Western University's Emergency Management Disaster Risk Matrix is updated regularly, and includes a Hazard Identification Risk Analysis (HIRA) to quantify likelihood and severity rankings for human, natural, and technological threats and risks.
Cyber Attack, Severe weather (summer and winter incident), as well as Hazardous Material Incident remain the top three threats.
uwo.ca/campussafety/pdf/2024%20Campus%20Safety%20and%20Emergency%20Services%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Does the institution participate in an ongoing campus-community task force or committee that is focused on climate resilience?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the campus-community task force or committee focused on climate resilience:
Has the institution incorporated climate resilience strategies and/or goals into one or more of its published plans?:
Narrative listing the institution’s climate resilience strategies and goals and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
https://sustainability.uwo.ca/paces/policy__planning/index.html
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.