Simon Fraser University
From ClimateNetworkWiki
Simon Fraser University page is part of the Places section of the Knowledge Base
According to the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, [1] Simon Fraser University (SFU) [www.sfu.ca] "offers bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs to more than 20,000 full- and part-time students each year. The university has three campuses: the main campus, located in Burnaby; the Harbour Centre campus, situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver; and the newest campus, in Surrey. SFU is known for pioneering interdisciplinary studies, co-operative education programs and new approaches to distance education."
Please add to this "Place" page as information becomes available, so that in sharing information we can learn from each other and strengthen our effectiveness in carbon-neutral and beyond carbon-neutral planning.
Contents |
External Climate Change and Related Commitments
- Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada: No
- Canadian Standards Association Greenhouse Gas Registry: Yes (Gold standard) [2]
- BC “PowerSmart” Partners: Yes. (First Place Winners of Envinta One-2-Five process in 2007)
- Talloires Declaration
Beyond Carbon Neutral Planning Contacts
- Environmental Science Student Union
- Climate Change Action Group
- Sustainable SFU
- Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SF-PIRG) http://www.sfpirg.ca/
Goals for the year:
- Climate Change Plan
- Development of 2008 CSAF report
- Coordinator volunteer program
- Increased local food through a new farmer's Foundation (non-profit) development market, good food box and demo garden
Campaigns:
- Gateway project
- better transit
Carbon Neutral and Beyond-Carbon Neutral Planning Initiatives
Policy
The Sustainability Policy [3], passed in January 2008, names sustainability as "an institutional priority for all University activities," and sets the goal of becoming "a leading institution in the transition to a sustainable society." It commits the university to leadership in sustainable operations, teaching and research, evaluation, and community involvement.
SFU is a signatory to the Talloires Declaration (link?). Composed in 1990, The Talloires Declaration is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. It has been signed by over 350 university presidents and chancellors in over 40 countries.
An earlier environmental management policy [4] was passed in 2003.
Climate Change and Governance Structure
- SFU has a Sustainability Coordinator in a part-time contract position [5].
- The SFU Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) was formed in 2004 within the portfolio of the Vice-President, Finance and Administration. It is responsible for initiating and executing a Sustainability Program at SFU. The committee is co-chaired by the Chief Facilities Officer/University Architect and the Director Special Projects in the Vice-President Legal Affairs office, and membership includes students, faculty and administrative and management staff representatives.
- The SAC recruits and trains "Sustainability Ambassadors" among staff and faculty to deliver sustainability education programs in their departments [6].
- Vice-Presidents are responsible for reviewing Sustainability Action Plans for their portfolios.
Buildings
Burnaby campus was awarded Go Green certification by the Building and Owners Management Association [7]
Energy
SFU ranked first among 66 global post-secondary institutions for their energy-management practices and policies in 2007 through a BC Hydro implemented protocol called EnVinta One-2-Five [8]. Since 2003, SFU has reduced its energy consumption enough to avoid emitting 1,709 tonnes of greenhouse gas annually [9], resulting in savings of approximately $250,000 / year [10]
Transportation
U-Pass
All undergraduate and graduate, part-time and full-time SFU students, excluding distance education students participate in the U-Pass Program [11].
Ridesharing
Beginning in July 2008, a group of SFU business students, in cooperation with SFU parking services and the Jack Bell Foundation, have launched a free rideshare program for SFU students, staff and faculty coordinated through a website (http://sfu.ride-share.com/en/my/). It is anticipated that this service will be well-used by the university community, and that it will help to decrease the number of single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) coming to campus. Parking services will continue to sponsor and administer the program after the students have completed their project [12].
Cycling
A Bike Coop through SFPIRG [13] offers free access to bicycle tools, and volunteer bike mechanics assist cyclists with repairs.
Parking
SFU is increasing the price of parking on campus, as well as reducing the ratio of parking to commuters [14], [15]. These measures will impact commuter behaviours, creating financial and logistical incentives towards transportation alternatives.
Food
SFU is currently implementing a local food program.
Waste
SFU has a recycling program and has begun to plan for on-campus composting.
Purchasing
In their Sustainability Policy, SFU commits to "balance quality, cost and environmental sustainability in its purchasing [...] decisions," including long-term and life-cycle costs [16].
Investments
In their Sustainability Policy, SFU commits to sustainability in investment decisions [17].
Budgeting
Offsets
Education and Research
- In its 2008 Sustainability Policy, SFU commits to "strive to be in the forefront of sustainability research and education" [18].
- Faculty and students across a wide spectrum of disciplines are engaged in climate change research, including in these centres and departments:
- The Centre for Sustainable Community Development
- The Centre for Coastal Studies
- Resource and Environmental Management
- Environmental Science
- Geography
- Urban Studies
- The City Program
- SFU is one of the partner universities involved in the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions [19][20].
- Under the Campus Sustainability Assessments Program, students can do a campus assessment report or other action research on priorities identified by the Sustainability Advisory Committee for course credit with their professor or instructors' permission [21], [22].
- SFU is a participant in the Learning City Collaborative [23] which seeks to conceptualize, implement and conduct research on sustainability education.
Civic and Community Engagement
- In its 2008 Sustainability Policy, SFU commits to "use its institutional capability to promote sustainability within and beyond the University" [24].
- SFU provides a listing of climate change experts who are available for media and speaking to the wider community [25].
