Looking into the future:An Environmental Centre
at McGill
Environmental Centre Task Force
Sub-Committee on the Environment
Sophie Mazowita & Violet Compton
• Introduction • Current situation• Leading examples
•University of British Columbia•University of Toronto•Harvard University
• Taking initiative at McGill• Conclusions
• ECTF formed in November 2005 • Who we are• Goals
– ECTF’s vision– McGill’s mission
Introduction
What McGill offers:
• Recycling program• Paper use policy• Energy reduction week• Clean & green• Student-run campus groups
– green initiatives, sustainability, composting
• Bicycle-share program
• 1 full-time position, 3 part-time students
Taking initiative at McGill
University of British Columbia
• Founded 1998 $50,000 seed funding• 3 full-time & 2 part-time staff• Energy retrofit management office autonomy• Directed by Land & Buildings Services
– under VP Admin & Finance
Leading examples
University of Toronto
• Established 2005 from Toronto Atmospheric Fund grant• 5 full-time staff, several work study
positions• Joint direction:
–Centre for Environment–Utilities and Building Services
• Central goal of energy use reduction
Leading examples
Harvard University
• Harvard University Green Campus Initiative - established 2000
• $70,000 grant for a strategic sustainability plan at the university• 13 full-time staff, 40 part-time positions• Campus utility costs reduced by over
$1 million/year– GHG reduction of >20 million lbs CO2
Leading examples
What McGill should offer:
• Exhaustive recycling program• Campus utility & GHG reductions• Transportation alternatives• Sustainability workshops & education• An environmental resource library• Meeting place
• A physical space on campus
Taking initiative at McGill
Why?? • Talloires & Halifax declarations• Montreal Sustainable Development Plan• 2008 Policy on Residual Material Management • Ratification of Kyoto• Benefit to the McGill community
Taking initiative at McGill
What McGill NEEDS:
• A physical space on campus– Environmental Centre
• Funding– Student research position– Credit for change
Taking initiative at McGill
• ECTF future goals:– continued research– gathering community support
and publicizing
Conclusions