Sustainable Development Goals
Our goals also correspond with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
See how Laurier is working towards completing the SDG goals.
The Sustainability Action Plan provides guidance and measurable actions to create a culture of sustainability at Laurier through academics, research, physical operations, outreach, and community partnerships.
Laurier promotes strategic objectives that foster a sustainably-minded campus community. Our Sustainability Action Plan is driven by four overarching categories. Within each category are several goals towards a sustainable Laurier and our plans on how we can achieve these goals.
Develop and support policies and practices that contribute to sustainable operations and resource utilization at Laurier.
Support the development of academic programs and research at Laurier that give attention to proactive sustainability.
Create and advance partnerships in the university and the greater community to share, cultivate, and form sustainable programs.
Consider the pillars of sustainability – economic, social, cultural, and environmental – in all decision-making processes.
The Annual Sustainability Reports illustrate how Laurier's operations and initiatives help achieve short, medium and long-term goals as outlined in the Sustainability Action Plan.
By evaluating progress across the university each year, it enables the Sustainability Office and our partners to prioritize certain programs and projects, while gauging the overall success of the sustainability goals that the university is pursuing in this ambitious Action Plan.
The scope of this report includes all campus activities during a given academic year.
Our various sustainability committees are composed of staff, faculty and students from across Laurier's campuses and locations. Our members are dedicated to work towards having a sustainable Laurier and accomplishing the goals of our action plan alongside the Sustainability Office.
The Sustainable Campus Committee (SCC) supports initiatives that address the unique sustainability challenges and opportunities that permeate the university community.
The primary focus of the SCC is the oversight of the Sustainable Hawk Fund program, ensuring new ideas align with Laurier’s sustainability goals. The projects and initiatives selected by the SCC contribute to creating an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable institution driven by community action.
The Fair Trade Campus Committee (FTCC) spearheads the efforts across Laurier’s campuses to advocate for fair trade best practices to be included in procurement policies, increasing Fairtrade product availability on campus, and create awareness campaigns on the importance of supporting ethical purchasing and fair wages.
The responsibilities of the FTCC also include monitoring compliance with the Fairtrade Campus requirements set by the Canadian Fair Trade Network. This entails creating impactful events and communications to support conscious consumption on campus, raising brand awareness to help identify which products meet Fair Trade requirements, and assessing feasibility of how Fair Trade can be incorporated into university processes such as planning events.
The Menstrual Equity Committee include dedicated individuals who advocate, raise awareness, and implement initiatives that promote menstrual equity on campus.
This multicampus committee works towards ensuring all members of the Laurier community with capacity for menstruation have access to menstrual products while on campus.
The committee is also tasked with eliminating stigma surrounding menstruation, fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for users of the program, and providing adequate education on menstrual equity available to the entire campus community.
Our goals also correspond with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
See how Laurier is working towards completing the SDG goals.
The 4.13 Sustainability Policy is a university-level operational policy approved by the Board of Governors that establishes Laurier’s commitment to enhance ecological, economic, and social sustainability across the campuses.
The policy communicates the goals and objectives of the institution for conserving resources, reducing environmental impact and supporting social equity. The policy also outlines the strategy for integrating sustainable practices into campus operations and decision-making processes, ensuring accountability and transparency.
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