Welcome to the new term! Whatever this will mean for us all is still a little unsure but whether on campus or not, as a community we can still come together around sustainability. Sustainability at Carleton is an important program that overlaps with our day to day activities, this could be through your course and teaching, through how you travel across our city, the energy you use or just the waste you throw away. It’s important to remember we can all still have an impact and contribute to a sustainable world.
The Energy & Sustainability Office is proud to provide you with all things sustainability at Carleton. Our services offer various sustainability resources (Waste Wizard App, Sustainability Guide, Weekly Sustainability Tips) and initiatives (WWF Living Planet Campus) that contribute to a greener university. We strive to create sustainable experiences and learning opportunities that demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable future.
Carleton was recently recognized within Ottawa for its sustainability programs by the Sustainability Business Network Carbon 613 and in 2019 was ranked 2nd in Canada within the UI Green University Rankings. In addition this year we see a new Sustainability and Energy Plans being released which will set a road map for future success and engagement.
To date we have seen a 35% reduction in our energy carbon emissions, from a 2005 baseline, moving us towards our carbon-neutral target by 2050. We have also seen zero waste certifications in our food courts and developed a waste app to help improve waste awareness, reduction in water use and efforts towards alternative transportation, including EV charging stations and upgrades to cycling infrastructure.
Carleton’s dining services play an impactful role in the campus’s sustainability efforts, largely through waste reduction and responsible sourcing efforts. Dining Services operates two Zero Waste Certified locations, the caf and The Food Court. Our residence dining hall, the caf, also became the second Canadian university dining location to earn a Three-Star Certified Green Restaurant in 2019. You can learn more about sustainable dining at Carleton at https://dining.carleton.ca/sustainability/.
If you are interested to learn more about Sustainability at Carleton, and how you can get involved please follow us on our social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook & Twitter) and sign up to our monthly newsletter. Get involved in the sustainability movement on campus by volunteering or taking part in sustainability-related events and receive a WWF recognition through our Living Planet at Campus program.
We look forward to bringing you more sustainability resources at Carleton. Have a safe and wonderful semester!
