York University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Building A Better Future: York University Academic Plan (UAP) 2020-2025 is about coming together to make positive change for our students, our campuses, and our local and global communities. 
https://www.yorku.ca/uap2020-25/building-a-better-future/

The UAP includes "Answering the Call": A University-Wide Challenge to Contribute to the
UN Sustainable Development Goals.  By furthering SDG-related work that intersects with the Priorities, our UAP highlights the distinctive ethos of York as a University committed to shaping a better future for all

https://www.yorku.ca/uap2020-25/answering-the-call/

The UAP has six pritorities for action which include:
https://www.yorku.ca/uap2020-25/six-priorities-for-action/

1- 21st Century Learning: Diversifying Whom, What, and How We Teach
-Every York University Graduate, Regardless of Background or Field of Study, must be equipped with the Knowledge, Transferable Skills, and Values to Navigate a 21st Century World in which chagne is the only constant.
• attain our goal of providing every student with an experiental learning opportunity, regardless of
program

2- Knowledge for the Future: From Creation to Application
-As Change accelerates around us, we aim to be more responsive to our communities by generating critical knowledge and works of art, ideas and innovations that engage multiple perspectives while propelling Ontario as a global knowlege-economy leader.
• increasing the research participation of faculty and trainees at all levels across the institution
• accelerating growth in the number and diversity of our scholarly and artistic outputs and research
funding base
• expanding the influence of our work through broadening and deepening our external partnerships
and engagement in the generation and sharing of knowledge and creative works, and by fully
implementing our Open Access Policy (2019) with leadership from our York University Libraries
• maximizing our impact by building on the success of Innovation York to expand student, faculty, and
community access to entrepreneurial programming and to increase our innovation activities

3- From Access to Success: Next Generation Student Supports
-with many of our students facing current challenges and uncertain futures, York will devote additional attention to supporting students of all backgrounds and circumstances to complete their studies successfully and to realize their full potential
• achievement of our Faculty Complement Renewal Strategy to diversify our faculty to better reflect
the makeup of our student body
• enhanced opportunities for learning about Indigenous worldviews and the history of Canada vis-à-
vis Indigenous peoples
• new systems to track our progress on improving outcomes for all of our students and especially
those from underrepresented groups

4- Advancing Global Engagement
-York University draws people from around the world who seek to learn from each other and to gain the global fluencies needed to work locally and across boarders torward a better future.

• global outlook and fluency informing curricula and global learning, while leveraging our own
diversity
• global nature of research attracting international scholars and supporting international
collaborative research
• robust recruitment of international students from a multitude of countries for whom we create a
nurturing and inclusive environment that supports their transitions to careers or further study
• communicating more actively, cultivating new partnerships, and fostering alumni connectivity to
expand our global reach and profile

5- Working in Partnership
York University understands that by partnering with other entities and sectors we gain vital insights and capactiy to create positive chagne impact for our students, our campuses, and our broader communities.
• developing with partners in Vaughan an integrated, interdisciplinary health precinct that will serve
the needs of a growing region, while creating synergies for health-related research, teaching, and
innovation
• establishing a UN-sponsored CIFAL1 centre to provide cross-sectoral training and development
programs that will advance the UN SDGs
• attracting partners to help realize the potential of our Keele campus Lands for Learning to support
both our academic mission and our social and environmental responsibilities
• implementing York University’s social procurement policy, one of the first among Canadian
academic institutions, as part of our broader commitment to being an anchor institution for
the region
• continuing to work with York’s Indigenous Council to strengthen the Indigenous presence on campus
• connecting our entrepreneurship and innovation activities to the broader innovation ecosystem
of Ontario

6- Living Well Together
Making Positive Change requires that all members of our diverse community feel welcomed into a sense of belonging, common purpose, and a shared responsibility to support and enrich each other's work. 
• continue our actions to support reconciliation through our Indigenous Framework, including
additional Indigenous spaces and art works
• intensify our systematic efforts to embed human rights, equity, diversity, and inclusion training
across the University
• continue to implement mental health and wellbeing strategies, policies, and collective actions that
create supportive and empowering environments for all members of the community

To support the efforts of the UAP and embedding SDGs across the curriculum, the SDGs in the Classroom Toolkit.  Through a pan-university interdisciplinary infusion of the SDGs into classrooms at York University which will reinforce the commitment to make positive change for students, campuses, and our local and global communities. Using the SDGs as a pedagogical framework for the student learning experience strengthens its application to education, links purpose with impact, and encourages students to take the first step to right the future. Every program and faculty member will be able to identify how their classrooms can welcome an SDG discussion, activity, or lesson.

https://www.yorku.ca/unsdgs/toolkit/

The SDGs-in-the Classroom Community of Practice  (COP) at York was created with a vision to track, weave, amplify and inspire the infusion of the SDGs into the curriculum. It is for York faculty and instructors who are involved or interested in infusing the SDGs into the curriculum across the campus.  

https://www.yorku.ca/unsdgs/toolkit/the-sdgs-in-the-classroom-community-of-practice-york-university/

York University has also developed an SDG website and annual reports to demonstrate progress on embedding the SDGs across the institution: 
Website: https://www.yorku.ca/unsdgs/
Report: https://www.yorku.ca/unsdgs/reports/

York University also has a Sustainability Strategy to guide the University in advancing sustainability into the near and long-term future. One of our strategic goals falls under the pillar of Knowledge. York aspires to develop pathways for all students to access sustainability curriculum, especially experiential education opportunities in sustainability. The Sustainability Strategy was published in 2017 and is currently undergone a community consultation for a renewal with an expected completion date of April 2024. 

KN1: International Reputation: York University’s international reputation in sustainability education and research draws students from across Canada and around the world to study here. 

KN2: Living Lab & Experiential Education: York University utilizes its campus operations, grounds and buildings as ‘living labs’ that provide experiential education opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students.

KN3: Sustainability Learning Outcomes: Undergraduate learning outcomes and graduate attributes of York University students include, wherever appropriate, the ability to identify and articulate sustainability challenges facing our world, and to assess, critique, explain and take action to address these problems.

KN4: World Leader in Research: York University is recognized as a world leader in applied sustainability research.

KN5: Leading Edge Research: York University researchers and staff work together to develop, conduct and apply leading edge research and technology in sustainability initiatives.

KN6: Network of Centres of Excellence: York University will establish a Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) in Sustainability that attracts world class researchers in sustainability and enables York to partner with other institutions and stakeholders around the world in sustainability research and knowledge mobilization.

The York University Strategic Research Plan 2023-2028
https://www.yorku.ca/research/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2023/10/YorkU-Strategic-Research-Plan-2023-2028-1.pdf

The Strategic Research Plan is a comprehensive research-intensive institution, York has a proud tradition of interdisciplinary scholarship and the pursuit of discovery and innovation. Its commitment to excellence brings together a rich diversity of perspectives with a strong sense of social responsibility that is making a difference to the world around us.
Objectives of the plan include:
• Pursuing Justice, Equity and Sustainability: from urban dynamics to global challenges
• Elevating entrepreneuship thorugh socially responsible innovation 
• Compelling Opportunities for Strategic Development:
-digital cultures and disruptive technologies
-healthy communities, equity and global well-being
-Indigenous Futurities
-Climate Action for a Sustainable Planet
-Social Justice, Peace and Equitable Relations
-Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research Innovation

York University has developed a Sustainability Strategy that will guide the University in advancing sustainability into the near and long-term future. One of our strategic goals falls under the pillar of People. York University is working to foster a culture of collaborative behaviour that harmonizes the efforts of the York community to pursue widely understood sustainability objectives. The Sustainability Strategy was published in 2017 and is currently undergoing a community consultation for a renewal with an expected release date of October 2024. 

PE1: Culture of Sustainability: The York University community demonstrates a culture of sustainability through individual behaviour and institutional practices, such as dedicating staff and academic positions to pursue sustainability, embedding sustainability in all job descriptions, and changing behaviour and practices through focused training and continuing education for new and incoming staff, faculty and students.

PE3: Anchor Institution: Each of York University’s campuses is an anchor institution with their surrounding communities. They proactively engage to promote sustainable economic, cultural, social, and environmental opportunities and innovation. York is in the process of doing community consultation, in addition, to research on best practices for the renewal of the sustainability strategy. https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/priorities/sustainability-strategy/

York University has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability within both the university and the surrounding community. In response to PE3 York has established the Anchor York U - An Anchor Institution & Community Benefits Framework

https://procurement.info.yorku.ca/files/2020/01/Anchor-YorkU_Framework.pdf?x89825

There are four target areas with objectives:
1) Employment
-explore a program for workplace training opportunities, for example, through internships, skilled trade apprenticeships and other employment training in collaboration with local partners, educational partners adn community initiatives, including system adn support for faculty and staff to participate in supervision.
-Work with education partners (e.g. school board, Seneca College) and community partners to develop training programs or opportunities to build skills needed for target groups to access employment opportunities at York
2) Engagment
-establish transparent and accessible process for community groups to request and access space.
-explore the possibility of developing a grant stream for community members to offset the costs of space.
-encourage visitors to the campus and support the development of a 'welcoming campus' environment though development of walking paths, community open house days, public events etc.
-promote York's community engagement opportunities and resources through the York University websites in a manner that provides community members with easy to access information about the University (e.g. general information, examples, key contacts, resources, and upcoming public events.)
3) Neighbourhood Buildings: Developing physical, social and environmental infrastructure
-support and implement the policies of the updated York University Secondary Plan, specifically as they relate to housing, coummunity services and facilities.
-Monitor, and where possible, strengthen the social justice adn human rights considerations in the implementation of the York University Secondary Plan.
-Create a collaborative plan that inludes community input and resources to co-support university and community needs.
-Participate in current neighbourhood planning initiatives related to community benefits of infrastructure development. 
4) Social Procurement
-increase the number of employment, apprenticeship and training opportunities leveraged for people from the Black Creek neighbourhoods and other equity-seeking communities
-increase the diversity of York's supply chain by providing diverse suppliers with equitable access to competive procurement processes. 
Social Procurement progress is illustrated here: 
https://www.yorku.ca/procurement/vendors-of-record/social-procurement/
https://secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/social-procurement-policy/
https://www.yorku.ca/procurement/vendor-directory/

York University's Master Plan https://www.yudc.ca/about
The Master Plan for the Keele Campus is organized around three lens: 
1) Pedestrians First
Strategies include:
-increase use of Transit
-expand & strengthen pedestrian circulation
-transform the ring road to a shared use greenway
-accomodate a network of primary & secondary public streets
-enhance unviersity streets
-continue to enhance wayfinding
-enhance bicycle and provide more bicycle parking
-transform parking resources
-accomodate passenger pick-up/drop off & delivery services
-support the university's transportation demand management program

2) Greening York University
Strategies include:
-enhance the natural heritage
-enhance the Arbortum
-enhance cultural heritage landscapes
-enhance University open spaces
-enhance the streetscape
-create beautiful gateways
-accomodate athletic facilities
-provide public art
-reinforce the university's sustainability plan
-integrate stormwater management with the University's open spaces

3) Infilling York University
Strategies include:
-establish the development potential of currently underused parcels & around the academic core
-urban design & landscape guidance for parcels & coordinated projects
-accomodate student housing
-protect the character of heritage buildings
-protect archaelogial resources
-provide efficient servicing

York University's Secondary Plan
https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/9219-cp-official-plan-SP-10-YorkUniversity.pdf

Environmental stewardship and sustainable design are important objectives of this Secondary Plan. Not only does this include protection of the open space and natural heritage systems, but it also relates to sustainable site and building design and development, stormwater management and site servicing. New and infill development will be planned to support area transit initiatives and contribute to regional sustainability goals and objectives, environmental stewardship and sustainable site design. Some objectives include:

•Buildings oriented to take advantage of
passive solar heating, shading for cooling and
natural light;
• External renewable or recoverable energy systems, based on sun, wind or geothermal energy sources;
• Energy efficient exterior cladding and window treatments;
• Green roofs and cool roofs (low emissivity and high surface reflectance);
• Use of light coloured paving materials;
• Planting native species and use of drought resistant plant materials;
• Rainwater harvesting and bio-retention swales;
• On-site bike lockers; and
• Use of locally sourced external building and/ or landscaping materials.

York University's Sustainability Strategy
The Sustainability Strategy was published in 2017 and is currently undergone a community consultation for a renewal with an expected release date of October 2024.

Some of the objectives for operations include:
PL5: York University has a long-term energy strategy and action plan with the goal of minimizing carbon emissions on our campuses. This will be achieved by pursuing integrated strategies in key areas such as energy, transportation, buildings, and operations.
PL6: York University’s campuses are ecologically healthy, and provide accessible and inviting spaces to learn, live, work and play. Valuing and prioritizing open and green spaces allows York University to manage our campuses to generate “co-benefits” that improve ecosystem health as well as human health and well-being.
PL7: Buildings on York campuses and lands held by York University are models of sustainable design and operation in multiple dimensions. Not only do they achieve energy, water and human health sustainability benefits, but they also serve as living labs that support experiential education and research in sustainability.
PL8: All new development, and where possible renovations, on York University campuses are constructed to the highest green building standards, and aspire to net positive contributions with respect to energy and utility
consumption and other dimensions of sustainability. 

Living Well Together - York University Keele Campus Vision and Strategy
https://www.yorku.ca/president/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2021/12/Keele-Campus-Vision-and-Strategy-document-FINAL-VERSION.pdf

The following objective is embedded under stewardship: 
In a climate-changing world,York University is also committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aspires to achieve the highest level of sustainability and resilience in all plans, developments, and activities. In addition to connecting the campus and adjoining neighbourhoods with new greenways, shaded by an enhanced tree canopy, this includes protecting and enhancing Keele Campus's
heritage assets and natural green spaces - including woodlots, gardens, and parks.

York University Sustainability Policy
https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/priorities/sustainability-policy/
The policy includes the following objectives:

4.1 develop a University Sustainability Strategy with an aim to achieve Net-Zero on Scope 1 and 2 emissions at York University and to significantly reduce Scope 3 emissions before 2040; consistent with global best practices to foster positive ecological, social, and economic outcomes.

4.2 develop and maintain a framework to shape and drive sustainability initiatives across the University community in its operations, and build capacity and awareness across the York community, locally and globally.

4.3 develop and implement a process to track, measure, evaluate and report to the Board on progress toward achieving the goals established under the University Sustainability Strategy, including milestones and implementation plans underpinned by conservation, decarbonization and innovation, applied to Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

5.1 the establishment of sustainability standards for transportation, energy, procurement, waste management, biodiversity protection, land use planning and capital construction.

5.2 establish mechanisms to implement the University Sustainability Strategy.

5.3 define processes through which all divisions and units must track, measure, evaluate and report to the President on their progress toward achieving the goals established under the University Sustainability Strategy.

York University has published it's first report Measuring York's Carbon and Ecological Footprint During fiscal years 2016-2020, and currently in development is an update from 2021-2023.   It is a comphrensive plan which has measured our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/sites/125/2023/09/yeef_report_20230621_technical.pdf

The Sustainability Strategy (2017)

https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/sites/125/2021/01/17120-Sustainability-Strategy2017_FINAL.pdf

The Sustainability Strategy was published in 2017 and is currently under community consultation for the renewal and release in 2024.  The current strategy has the following goals:

PL3: Financial Sustainability: York University integrates sustainability into its overall financial plan, integrated resource plans and procurement, and is a responsible investor with respect to sustainability. PL4: Innovation Fund: York University has an ongoing sustainability innovation fund to support sustainability projects on its campuses.

PE2: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Social Justice: York University’s holistic approach to sustainability includes social sustainability. York is an inclusive and welcoming community that draws strength from inclusivity and diversity and a commitment to equity and social justice.

Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2028 York’s vision for an equity strategy is based on a commitment to decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion (DEDI) and the fundamental belief that everyone should be treated fairly and equitably, with respect and dignity. https://www.yorku.ca/dedi-strategy/ York University has long been a leader in sustainability. Steadfast in its commitment to sustainability and to ensuring sustainability is embedded into all aspects of the University’s operations, York’s Sustainability Strategy clearly delineates this in one of its goals,

PL3: York University integrates sustainability into its overall financial plan, integrated resource plans and procurement, and is a responsible investor with respect to sustainability.

York University is committed to sustainable investing built around a strategy that integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, into the overall financial management of its investment portfolios. The University believes that these influences can affect risks and returns and that organizations that effectively manage ESG factors are more likely to endure and create sustainable value over the long term. York University invests in Investment Manager products and York’s investment managers integrate ESG factors into their investment strategies. While our investment managers work to generate required returns for York’s Pension, Endowment and short-term working capital assets, ESG factors are consistently considered in the analysis and investment decision making.
https://www.yorku.ca/finance/sustainable-investing/

The Sustainability Strategy Progress report can be found here https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/reports/

The York University Academic Plan 2020-2025 declares that "We uphold Sustainability – environmental, social, and fiscal – as a vital compass for decisions and initiatives." It expresses our committment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, stating that "Over the next five years, we will challenge ourselves as a University to deepen our collective contributions to the United Nations’ seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)".

Sustainability Strategy (2017) York University has long been recognized as an international leader in sustainability-relevant research, teaching, partnerships, and campus practices. By challenging ourselves to deepen this work, and to track and report on our contributions, we reaffirm our longstanding York values of social justice, equity, sustainability, and excellence in all that we do. York has embedded sustainable principles in every aspect of university life. We plan to right the future and create positive change with our whole-institution approach to sustainability.

York University also has a Sustainability Policy which describes the University’s responsibility for and commitment to sustainability, and provides the framework for ongoing implementation of the policy and assists the University Community in incorporating Sustainability into decision making. This policy was renewed in 2023 https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/priorities/sustainability-policy/

York University defines a sustainable university as one that "enhances the ecological functioning of its campuses; models knowledgeable, active and responsible global citizens; and does so within an integrated, long-term framework of full-cost economic and environmental accounting." More about Sustainability at York: "At York, sustainability is more than a promise to control our waste and energy. It is the lens through which we see everything we do. It is in the character that we all have, in the space we all occupy, and in the culture we create for everyone—on campus and in our communities. Most importantly, it is the challenge that we must all agree to tackle together."

'1) Our University Academic Plan 2020-2025 (UAP), included a university-wide challenge to elevate York’s contributions to the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

https://vpap.info.yorku.ca/files/2020/06/Building-a-Better-Future-YorkU-UAP-2020-2025.pdf

2) Sustainability Action Commitment - York’s Office of Sustainability is growing, including recruitment for a Chief Sustainability Officer. - A new one-million-dollar fund for Sustainability Innovation has been announced. - An open access microlecture series and badge in Sustainable Living is being created. - York has pledged to reduce direct and indirect emissions by 45% by 2030.

https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/priorities/action-commitment/

3) York University is committed to reducing our carbon emissions and being carbon neutral on or before 2040.
https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/priorities/netzero/

https://www.yorku.ca/sustainability/priorities/sustainability-policy/