For the ninth consecutive year, UBC is recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2020.
This special award recognizes Canadian employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness, develop exceptional earth-friendly initiatives, and – because of their environmental leadership – are attracting employees.
Some of the reasons why UBC is being recognized with this award include:
- UBC boasts a number of green firsts, including being the first Canadian university to adopt a sustainable development policy (and first to sign the International Sustainable Campus Charter), the first to open a formal campus sustainability office, and the first to receive the Gold rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating (STARS) system, which is an accepted comprehensive university sustainability rating system.
- UBC’s recently updated Climate Action Plan, first established in 2010, commits the university to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 67% by 2020 and 100% by 2050 (over a 2007 baseline year) — impressively, the Vancouver campus has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by over one-third, relative to the 2007 baseline year, which is even more impressive when noting the 19% increase in floor space at the campus.
- UBC adopted the LEED Gold certification standard for all new construction and major renovations of institutional buildings, with 26 registered and certified buildings – the most for any Canadian university. With over 400 buildings, UBC also manages an ongoing Building Tune-Up Program as well as a longstanding building retrofit program, ongoing since 1998.
UBC puts sustainability at the heart of teaching, learning and research and is integrated through our operations and infrastructure. Our sustainability efforts are proudly delivered by students, faculty and staff. Explore more and read about our leadership in procurement practices, how we are making labs more environmentally friendly, and the flow of our water.
In addition to being recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers this year, UBC was also recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers, one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers.
To see all of this year’s Greenest Employers, visit https://www.canadastop100.com/environmental/