Energy and Sustainability

Carleton University is dedicated to ongoing environmental and sustainability improvements across our operations. We actively seek innovative ways to demonstrate leadership in sustainability through research, teaching, learning, and operational practices. Our goal is to minimize our environmental impact while ensuring that our unique campus remains enjoyable for current and future students, staff, and faculty.

Sustainability Carleton, part of Facilities Management and Planning, oversees campus-wide sustainability efforts, covering areas like travel, waste, energy, and dining. By collaborating with various departments and partners, we ensure responsible resource management and uphold high sustainability standards.

In addition to developing and maintaining infrastructure and services, Sustainability Carleton promotes behaviour change to support the adoption of its initiatives. Our primary goal is to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This involves minimizing our emissions and continuously implementing low-carbon upgrades, constructing sustainable buildings, and finding innovative solutions. We are also planning to address Scope 3 emissions, which include carbon emissions from travel to and from campus and other indirect sources such as procurement activities.

Annual Updates

• The Sustainability Carleton ‘Strive for Sustainability’ Annual Report provides an update on campus sustainability progress over the past 12 months, including key metrics and programs. Key highlights include:
• Recognition
• One of the first universities to sign up for the Government of Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge.
• Recognized in the Top 50 for the UI Green Metric global university rankings
• Recognized in the Times Higher Education Impact rankings for Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (50th) and Goal 14: Life Below Water (82nd)
• Became a founding member of the Nature Positive Universities program
• Achieved 3-Star Green Restaurant Certification
• Initiatives
• Engaged the campus community in ‘Let’s Bike Ottawa Month’ programs to increase active transportation rates
• Developed first GHG emission inventory for Scopes 1, 2 and 3
• Completed a carbon footprint assessment of the listed equities of the Carleton Endowment and Operating Funds
• Completed energy projects and audits toward GHG reduction goals
• Rolled out additional internal and external four-sorter waste bins and completed three campus-wide waste audits

Learn more on the official Sustainability Carleton website. Sustainability | Carleton University