Institutionalizing Sustainability: The

University of British Columbia Case Study

Presentation to

Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference

April 2, 2008

Charlene Easton, Director UBC Sustainability

2.Signature Stories

Presentation Outline

1. Our Story: An Overview with a Focus on Governance

3. Critical Success Elements

University of British Columbia

• One of top five research-intensive universities

• Ranked as one of the world’s top 40 universities

• 45,000 students

• 19,000 faculty and staff

• Recognized world leader in sustainability.

Chronology 1990 – 2008

1990 Talloires Declaration

1991 Halifax Declaration

1997 UCB Policy on Sustainable Development

1998 Sustainability Office (1998)• Green Building, Ecotrek, SEEDS, SC Coordinators, Renew, 1999-ongoing

2005 TREK 2010

2006 Sustainability Strategy

2007 UBC 2006/2007 Sustainability Report

2008 University and College Presidents’ Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada

UBC Sustainable Development Policy #5 (1997)

UBC will implement practices that are:“mindful of the need to balance ecological, social, and economic imperatives, and to do so, in an open and transparent way with the involvement of all stakeholders.”

The challenge

UBC Sustainability Office Mission: Creating a Culture of Sustainability at UBC

A Unique Funding Model

• Early emphasis on a “Green Campus” program

and retrofitting old buildings• Initially consisted just of a Director and an Energy Manager• Funding Through Energy Savings: our office is continually funded through savings from energy and water reductions

UBC Sustainability Office

Organizational Structure

Trek 2010 Vision

“The University of British Columbia, aspiring to be one of the world’s best universities, will prepare students to become exceptional global citizens, promote the values of a civil andsustainable society, and conduct outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.”

SOCIAL GOALS

A) Improve Human Health & Safety

B) Make UBC a Sustainable Community

C) Increase Understanding of Sustainability Inside and Outside the University

ECONOMIC GOALS

D) Ensure Ongoing Economic Viability

E) Maintain and Enhance the Asset Base

F) Maintain and Maximize the Utilization

of the Physical Infrastructure

ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS

H) Reduce Pollution

I) Conserve Resources

J) Protect Biodiversity

Inspirations and Aspirations 2006

68 Targets in total

Social PerformanceStudent Engagement• Involve 10% of students in Community Service Learning programsAboriginal Issues• Increase number of courses and enrolment in courses on Aboriginal issues and perspectives

Environmental PerformanceWaste Reduction• Divert 50% of campus waste from new institutional construction from landfillAir Quality• Maintain annual average automobile traffic at or below 1997 per capita levels

Economic PerformanceIncrease Research Support• Be one of the top recipients of government research funding for Canadian universitiesTuition Fees• Strive to keep tuition fees at 25-30% of education costs for domestic students

2006/2007 Annual Report

UBC Sustainability: Video

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Signature Stories

C.K. Choi 1996

Highlights•UBC as early adopter of green building•Set new benchmarks for the world•Won multiple green architecture awards

Features•Over 50% of materials were salvaged/reused•Natural ventilation•First composting toilets in an institutional building in Canada•No connection to sewer

Green Buildings A Value to Sustainability

1. Spurring innovation in the region

2. UBC reputation and brand3. Educational value4. Catalyst for a

comprehensive green building program at UBC

(work in progress)

Strong Green Building Cluster

38% of LEED Certified buildings in Canada are in BC

64% of LEED Certified buildings in BC are in the

Metro Vancouver area

30 15 2 125

3 2 1

1

Eco Trek

UBC U-PASS

UBC SEEDS Program

Core Elements

• based on pedagogy of ‘action research’ • individual credit or class project• Dedicated coordinator to build relationships, negotiate scope, problem solve, guide

Achievements• over 2000 students in 7 years

1. A three way partnership- staff, students and researchers

2. Research project focused on a ‘real need’ usually generated by staff ensures application

3. Well negotiated and agreed to scope of work fundamental to student success

4. Quality control – detail oriented, customer service, organized, relational, requires a dedicated coordinator.

Lessons Learned: SEEDS

UBC Sustainability Coordinators

Core Elements• employee volunteer program• 2 hours a month paid time• support ( tool kits) and appreciation (luncheons)• thematic foci: transportation, energy conservation and waste management• individual and collective accountability for actions

1. Use the volunteer management cycle and behavioral change principles (prompts, incentives, norms communication and commitment).

2. If someone makes a small commitment to start, it will grow from there. Gain commitment at about 5 stages in the volunteer management cycle – job description, recruitment, interview, training, recognition. If you build commitment people won’t leave you.

3. If you had a high turn around could not run the program, because then the culture of sustainability would not be consistent.

Lessons Learned:Sustainability Coordinators

Institutionalizing Sustainability:

Critical Success Elements

TimeTime

Com

plex

ityC

ompl

exity

Individual

System

Units

Increase Skills & Knowledge

Improve Structures,

Mechanisms & Procedures

Enable Supportive

Policy, Legal & Institutional Frameworks

TimeTime

Com

plex

ityC

ompl

exity

Individual

System

Units

Increase Skills & Knowledge

Increase Skills & Knowledge

Improve Structures,

Mechanisms & Procedures

Improve Structures,

Mechanisms & Procedures

Enable Supportive

Policy, Legal & Institutional Frameworks

Enable Supportive

Policy, Legal & Institutional Frameworks

Institutionalization Scope

Sustainability Office: Institutionalization Functions

• Vision, strategic planning, and reporting• Policy alignment & horizontal coordination• Technical and expert services• Alliance building /partnership development• Resource leveraging• Demonstration /Signature Programs• Communications & branding

Our Niche is a neutral zone

UBC’s Climate Action Partnership

Critical Success Elements

• Engagement to build genuine ownership • Shared direction and support from the top• Leadership and information standards for

decision-making• Hold spaces for authentic dialogue • Programs coincide with primary processes /add

value• Flexible and iterative planning • Appreciate and investment in social innovation• Focus on scaling-up and expansion strategies• Demonstrate the Business Case• Shared accountability and transparency

In Closing

Please visit www.sustain.ubc.ca for more

information on the UBC & Sustainability

Summer Institute in Sustainability July 20-25

www.cstudies.ubc.ca/sustainability

Institutionalizing Sustainability at the University of MarylandWith Lessons Learned from UBC

Mark StewartCampus Sustainability Coordinator

University of Maryland

Timeline of Institutionalizing Sustainability at UM

The Past: Disparate Efforts • Decades of deeply committed individuals working in their

own capacities to green their operations– Student Affairs (environmental guidelines, PRDs, etc.)

– Dining Services (composting, waste reduction, etc.)

– Campus Planning (Master Plan, storm water mgmt., etc.)

– Others

Timeline of Institutionalizing Sustainability at UM

The Recent: Calling for a Campus-Wide Approach • Environmental Stewardship Committee formed

• First Campus Sustainability Report released

• Vice Presidents excited about sustainability

• Student referendum asked for Clean Energy Student Fee

• Student petition asked President to sign ACUPCC

• President signed ACUPCC

• Office of Sustainability established

Timeline of Institutionalizing Sustainability at UM

The Present: Beginning to Institutionalize Sustainability• Office of Sustainability

– Supporting and developing sustainability champions among faculty, staff, and students campus-wide.

• Climate Action Plan Work Group

– ACUPCC plan; Administrators, faculty, staff, and students

• University Strategic Plan

– Recognizes sustainability; major policy implications

• USM Sustainability Initiative

• Push for triple-bottom-line sustainability. This movement cannot be pigeonholed into just “greening the campus.”

• Brand the work of the Energy Service Company (ESCO) and all other conservation initiatives under one campaign (UBC example: EcoTrek)

• Work with local utility company for funding opportunities for conservation and outreach (UBC example: BC Hydro)

• Involve students in research that supports conservation initiatives (UBC example: SEEDS)

Moving Forward (with Lessons Learned from UBC)

• Develop Champions of Sustainability – Faculty and staff liaisons (UBC example: Sustainability

Coordinators)

– Student liaisons (UBC example: Residential Sustainability Coordinators)

– Student Government liaison (UBC example: Alma Mater Society Sustainability Coordinator)

Moving Forward (with Lessons Learned from UBC)

• Climate Action Plan

• Sustainability Speaker Series

• Integrating sustainability into New Student Orientation

• Integrating sustainability into UNIV100 freshman class

• Major sustainability education campaign in the fall

• Residence hall competitions

• Curriculum development workshops for faculty and eventually k-12 teachers

• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

Moving Forward with Other Initiatives

Mark StewartCampus Sustainability CoordinatorOffice of Sustainabilitystewartm@umd.edu301-405-4633

Contact: