The dangers of climate change and its repercussions for our planet are very real and have put climate awareness at the forefront of how many organizations conduct their business. As an institution of higher learning and a research intensive university, the University of Ottawa has a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of climate change, as well as a responsibility to take positive and meaningful action. Through our collective activities, we are taking important steps forward each year to help address climate change and to increase our momentum in creating a sustainable future.

Over the past years, the University of Ottawa has made several important commitments to help create a culture of sustainability. We signed the Montreal Carbon Pledge, vowed to reduce the carbon footprint of our investments in accordance with Canada’s national climate commitment, and implemented an Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy to support our efforts.

We recruited one of the world’s leading environmental economists, Carolyn Fischer, who holds the Canada 150 Research Chair in Climate Economics, Innovation and Policy, to position our university as a centre of excellence in environmental issues. And most recently, we made sustainability a key component of Transformation 2030.

While more remains to be done to ensure sustainability is deeply embedded across our campus, I am confident that the initiatives outlined in this report are helping to mobilize our institution and to integrate climate action throughout our academic programs, research activities and operations.

Jacques Frémont, President and Vice-chancellor

Teaching programs

The Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability
The Centre is home to one of the largest concentrations of environmental law professors of any law school in Canada, with areas of expertise including water law, toxic torts, environmental justice, sustainable food law, international trade, economic instruments biotechnology and aboriginal law.

The Institute of the Environment
The Institute of the Environment (IE) is the University’s hub for environmental sustainability-related research, teaching and other activities. The cross-cutting nature of environmental problems means that there is a critical need for innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and research. Our institute is well positioned to bring together different academic fields and stakeholders, all playing a vital role in understanding environmental problems and developing solutions.

The Institute for Science, Society and Policy (ISSP)
The Institute for Science, Society and Policy is a cross-faculty Institute at the University of Ottawa exploring the links between science, society and policy. Our network includes professors, researchers, practitioners and students from multiple faculties and disciplines both inside and outside uOttawa. 

• Mitacs
  Mitacs is committed to fostering policy leadership among Canada’s researchers and we have worked to identify ways to integrate academic research and evidence-informed policy-making with federal and provincial governments. In collaboration with Canada’s research and policy communities, Mitacs has established the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship, the first initiative of its kind in Canada.
• Science Outside the Lab – North
  Science Outside the Lab (SOtL) North is a deep-dive, immersive introduction to science, policy, and societal impacts. Students spend one week at the ISSP at the University of Ottawa (Ontario) and at Concordia University in Montreal (Québec), developing skills that will help them understand and succeed in their endeavours at the intersection of science and society.

Research activities

• Carolyn Fischer - Canada 150 Research Chair in Climate Economics, Innovation and Policy
• Tom Baker - Canada Research Chair in Catalysis Science for Energy Applications
• Nicholas Rivers - Canada Research Chair in Climate and Energy Policy
• Benoît Lessard - Canada Research Chair in Advanced Polymer Materials and Organic Electronics
• Anthony Heyes - Canada Research Chair in Environmental Economics
• Jackie Dawson - Canada Research Chair in Environment, Society and Policy

Experiential learning

Community Engagement

In accordance with the holistic approach and actions outlined in the report, the Finance and Treasury Committee has established steps to gradually tilt the portfolio away from fossil fuels and establish a framework to effectively measure future shifts in this direction.

1. Establish measurements and a proper starting point to track shifts in the long-term portfolio.

   • PRI (Principles for Responsible Investing) ranking versus median respondent
   • Montreal Carbon Pledge
   • Environmental, social and governance (ESG) implementation by the portfolio’s investment managers

2. Identify and consider new indices and/or benchmarks that incorporate responsible investment principles, in addition to (or in place of) previous indices or benchmarks.

3. Annually measure progress and report the results to the University community.

4. Incorporate these results when considering and updating investment policies.

5. Consider these results, to the extent appropriate, in evaluating fund manager performance.

6. Create a Clean Innovations Fund with an initial $10 million. Increase it over time using funds from the existing portfolios and donations received for this purpose.

Earlier this year, alongside 14 other universities, uOttawa pledged support for a new responsible investing charter called Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities, which is aligned with uOttawa’s current efforts in this regard.

Engaging donors and Alumni support in of clean innovation

The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors committed uOttawa to creating a Clean Innovation Research Fund (CIRF). External Relations has exceeded this fundraising goal, with donors contributing $2.1M to date for initiatives related to climate change.

• $325,000 raised in 2019-20 for Positive Energy
• $420,000 raised in 2019-20 for research at the Smart Prosperity Institute
• $250,000 from the Jarislowsky Foundation donated in support of the Smart Prosperity Institute
• $52,000 from Robert Gorman (the first tranche of a $100,000 pledge)

External Relations hosted events related to climate change and sustainability

• Responsible investment workshop - October 22, 2019
• uOttawa Innovates - Software, scalable automation and sustainable energy - December 12, 2019
• Zero Waste 101 Workshop - January 21, 2020

Expanding our Emissions Inventory

By the year 2040, the University of Ottawa aims to be carbon neutral, essentially emitting zero net emissions by offsetting its carbon. This would apply to direct emissions produced by burning natural gas and fuel.

Infrastructure

• In January of 2020, Enbridge officials visited the University to present another incentive rebate for the energy retrofits at the Biosciences Complex and Colonel By Hall. The deep energy retrofits over the past decade have eliminated 9,682 tonnes of CO2 annually.
• The new development at 200 Lees is targeting the highest LEED certification, platinum. Even higher standards are being explored for future buildings.

Transportation

• Currently, over 87% of campus community members do not use a single occupancy vehicle to arrive on campus, but the 13% who do produce represent one-third of all the emissions.
• In early 2020, Facilities revamped its fleet of work vehicles. The size of the fleet was reduced, and one-third was replaced by electric vehicles. This is estimated to eliminate 16 tonnes of CO2 from our fleet annually and contribute to our clean air community.