McGill’s next Climate and Sustainability Strategy

Consultations with the McGill community will help steer the University's sustainability efforts post Vision 2020

McGill is entering a new and exciting chapter of sustainability on campus. This January, the McGill Office of Sustainability (MOOS) will start a consultation process leading to the Next Climate & Sustainability Strategy.

Vision 2020 – McGill’s Climate & Sustainability Action Plan – is ending soon. The next Climate & Sustainability Strategy will continue to work toward two long-term targets: to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and to attain a Platinum sustainability rating by 2030.

As François Miller, Director of the MOOS explains: “The results of a recent sustainability survey will guide the orientation of McGill’s next Climate and Sustainability Strategy. This will be complemented by a thorough consultation process that will involve staff, students and faculty.”

The next strategy will also touch on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These 17 goals are a call for action to all countries. “We want to ensure our strategy fits into a broader framework and that we are contributing to global targets,” said Miller.

The University wants to build up on the momentum created by Vision 2020 to develop an ambitious yet realistic strategy for 2020-2025. “Sustainability and climate action are fundamental topics for our institution. The upcoming strategy will build on current initiatives to further position McGill as a leading institution in sustainability and catalyze change on campus,” said Yves Beauchamp, Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance).

Sophie Osiecki, Environment Commissioner for the Post-Graduate Students’ Society, believes that “engaging the community – and especially students – in the consultation process will be a key success factor of this new strategy. We are eager to contribute in creating an engaging strategy that everyone at McGill will feel a part of.”

Consultations and engagement events will be happening from January to March 2020. The MOOS invites the McGill community to take part in these events and share their thoughts on how to continue fostering a culture of sustainability on campus. Stay tuned for upcoming events.

For more information, please contact Agathe Moreau.