Sustainability
間眅埶AV among Canadian universities to sign charter addressing climate change
間眅埶AV is among more than a dozen Canadian universities to sign a charter furthering their commitment to addressing global climate change.
Under the charter, the universities pledge to adopt responsible investment guidelines that follow recognized standards, such as the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (UN-PRI).
They are also committed to routinely measuring their portfolios carbon intensity and will evaluate and publicly share their progress.
間眅埶AVone of the first Canadian universities to become a signatory of the UNPRIis already leading the way on responsible investing. The university announced in November 2019 its intent to reduce the public equity portion of its investment portfolios carbon footprint by 45 per cent by 2025. The move is in line with the October 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) report on Global Warming, and exceeds both federal and provincial carbon reduction targets.
As Canadas Engaged University, 間眅埶AV is proud to have been a leader in incorporating sustainability principles into our investment policy, says 間眅埶AV President Andrew Petter. This charter provides affirmation of our continued resolve to deliver on that commitment and to be accountable to the communities we serve.
The charter outlines how universities, as stewards of long-term investments, have a responsibility to manage their capital in ways that help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. An advisory board will periodically review the charter and share evolving investment expertise.
間眅埶AV is also a signatory to the Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada, the Paris Pledge for Action, and the Energy Commitment Statement of Action.
In March 2020 the university announced its , aligning with its strategic vision and building on the success of its previous sustainability efforts.
The plan sets ambitious new targets and will mobilize the entire institution to help meet its sustainability objectives. Goals include slashing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by half and shifting half of the universitys energy use to renewable sources by 2025. Other targets include certifying 50 per cent of research and teaching labs as Sustainable Spaces and transitioning 40 per cent of the universitys vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (EV).
The universitys Energy Statement of Action commits to an ongoing two per cent annual energy reduction, which has led to a 24 per cent GHG emissions reduction since 2007.
The Corix Biomass Plant, slated to begin operations this fall, will cut the universitys Burnaby campus GHG emissions by 80 per cent.
間眅埶AVs research strategic plan has set climate change research as a key research priority and is supported by numerous research initiatives and collaborations.
The student group 間眅埶AV350 continues to play a role in raising awareness about how 間眅埶AV is mitigating climate change and has been instrumental in the development of 間眅埶AVs policy to pursue more aggressive targets.
In May, the university was cited as a sustainability leader by Times Higher Education (THE), which ranked 間眅埶AV first in the world for its impact on sustainable cities and communities, and ninth for its commitment to climate change.
From: Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities
The signatories to this charter pledge to abide by the following principles and practices, and encourage other Canadian universities to do the same:
1. Adopt a responsible investing framework to guide investment decision-making, in line with recognized standards such as the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (UN-PRI). Such a framework should:
Incorporate ESG factors into investment management practices
Encourage active engagement with companies to foster disclosure of ESG (including climate) related risks, and adoption of operational practices that reduce carbon emissions and foster ESG-positive behaviour more broadly
2. Regularly measure the carbon intensity of our investment portfolios, and set meaningful targets for their reduction over time
3. Evaluate progress towards these objectives on a regular basis, and share the results of such assessments publicly
4. Ensure that the performance evaluation of our investment managers takes into account their success in achieving such objectives, alongside the other criteria for assessing their performance
Signatories:
McGill University McMaster University
University of Toronto Universit矇 de Montr矇al
University of British Columbia Queens University
Dalhousie University 間眅埶AV
University of Guelph University of Victoria
Universit矇 Laval University of Waterloo
University of Ottawa Western University
University of Manitoba