Mary Kane
While Bali’s UN Conference on Climate Control may have been hot news in December, other sustainability issues will be discussed closer to home from January 25 to 27 when the University of Ottawa hosts the third annual Ontario Sustainable Campuses Conference.
“The University of Ottawa is looking forward to hosting this conference, given that we have much to learn and many successes to share with sister institutions across Ontario,” says Victor Simon, vice-president, Resources.
The Ontario Sustainable Campuses Conference brings together students, faculty and staff connected by one common goal – a commitment to sustainability. Participants from Ontario’s colleges and universities will have the opportunity to share their successes and challenges faced in building a more sustainable campus. Speakers include Clayton Thomas-Muller of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) in northern Manitoba, an activist for indigenous rights and environmental justice, and Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians.
For Jonathan Rausseo, the University’s sustainability development coordinator, the conference is a bit of a homecoming since the first national sustainable campuses conference was held here in 1999.
“The conference gives the University of Ottawa a chance to showcase ourselves and our successes to other institutions,” says Rausseo. “It’s also an opportunity for the campus community to learn about sustainability and to gain tools for empowerment.” He also sees this conference as an “introduction to the hard core sustainability field.”
Though building a sustainable campus is an ongoing engagement, the University is already making significant strides. According to Rausseo, when measured against the Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework, created by Lindsey Cole for the Sierra Youth Coalition, uOttawa is one of the best comprehensive universities in Canada for energy consumption. The University has also reduced its water consumption by 20 per cent over the last 15 years despite a 50 per cent increase in the student population since 1993, and campus expansion. It is also recognized for its considerable efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Much more can be done to raise awareness of sustainability issues at the institutional and individual level. For example, Rausseo points to the importance of building on the success of the Institute of the Environment, which has held environmentally related conferences for many years.
Organized by the University of Ottawa, the Student Federation (SFUO), Ontario Public Interest Research Group and the Sierra Youth Coalition, the conference will be preceded by Green Week, from January 21 to 25, organized by SFUO in partnership with the University.
For more information about the Sustainability Conference, see Related Link below or contact Jonathan Rausseo. Contact Danika Brisson for further details about Green Week.
Related Link:
Ontario Sustainable Campuses Conference
