Carleton’s sustainability commitment is embedded across teaching and learning, research and operations. Our key strategic plans and policies provide a framework for our work, while our reporting allows us to share successes, benchmark progress, and showcase best practices. Click the images below to learn more about Carleton’s plans related to sustainability.

Strive for Sustainability Strategic Plan

The comprehensive sustainability plan for 2020-25 outlines themes, goals, and actions, shaped by community input, to make strides in sustainability and align with our Strategic Integrated Plan.

Energy Master Plan

The 2021-26 Energy Master Plan aligns with our Sustainability Plan, detailing progress, goals, and strategies for achieving a carbon-neutral campus through energy management and reduction efforts.

Campus Master Plan 2023 Update

The purpose of the plan is to set parameters, policies, and directions for the physical development of the campus.

Responsible Investing Report 2023

This report, developed by the Pension Fund Management Office, outlines efforts in portfolio decarbonization, measuring and disclosing carbon footprint, and setting emission reduction targets.

Strive for Sustainability Annual Report 

The Sustainability Carleton Strive for Sustainability Annual Report provides an update on key progress over the past 12 months, including key metrics and programs.
Click the image on the right to view the 2023 report.

Previous Reports:
2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report 
2019 Annual Report

Other Sustainability-Related Plans

Finance and Administration Strategic Plan 2023-2028
Carleton University’s Finance and Administration Division has released their 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. Aligning with the university’s Strategic Integrated Plan (SIP), our commitments are to: Partner with Stakeholders, Enable Our People, Pursue Excellence in the Everyday, and Embed Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Principles. Learn more about the plan here.

Transportation Plan
Carleton University has developed a multi-year transportation strategy for the campus. This strategy takes into account all modes of transportation and how members of the community move around our campus. Learn more about the plan here.

Outdoor Space Master Plan
Carleton University has developed an Outdoor Space Master Plan to help us better plan and develop the outdoor spaces on campus. This plan provides a comprehensive vision for the future of our campus grounds, taking into account the needs of our community and the natural environment. Learn more about the plan here.

External Benchmarking

Carleton’s sustainability programs are recognized and benchmarked for best practices in third-party rating systems.

STARS

In 2022 Carleton achieved a Gold STARS rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), an in-depth program for higher education administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of higher education institutions, from community colleges to research universities. Learn more about STARS here.

UI Green Metric

Carleton University has participated in the UI Green Metric World University Rankings since 2016. The rankings, launched in 2010, provide a uniform program to review sustainability commitments, programs and progress in the university setting. In 2022, Carleton was ranked 49th internationally and 2nd in Canada for our efforts. Learn more about UI Green Metric here.