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Concordia University: a sustainable development playground – Part I

Posted by Montreal Environment in Consumer Life, Montreal, Sustainability

Since the 1987 Brundtland Report, the sustainable development concept has become the mantra of the 21st Century. At the core of the concept lies the confluence of three constituent parts: environmental, economic, and sociopolitical sustainability. These mutually reinforcing and interdependent ‘pillars’ of sustainable development involve the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity that would enable humanity to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It is no surprise that the sustainable development concept arose at the end of the 20th Century marked by the challenges brought by globalization: environmental degradation, exponential increase in sociopolitical inequality, escalating conflict over scarce natural resources, the eclipse of the nation-state, decreased citizen participation, increasing nationalistic movements of subnational groups, North-South tensions, increased food insecurity, and climate change, to name just a few. One might wonder if our species will even survive into the 22nd Century.

At Concordia University sustainability cuts across disciplines, where experts from a variety of fields are exploring ways to achieve the long-term viability of the world’s human and non-human communities. From fostering public dialogue through its University of Streets Café to installing photovoltaic panels on the new John Molson School of Business, a world first demonstration, Concordia is at the forefront of sustainable development movement.

Sustainable Concordia
This initiative was the brain-child of Geneva Guerin and Melissa Garcia Lamarca, when in 2002 they set out to conduct a “campus sustainability assessment which would paint a picture of where Concordia was in relation to sustainability, and where the institution could be.” By involving students, faculty and staff the modest $25,000 project has grown into a university wide partnership that now manages 8 initiatives:

• Allégo – aims to make transpiration more sustainable by offering a free rideshare board, bicycle safety and maintenance workshops and the Guaranteed Ride Home program.

• R4: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – promotes the university community engagement in environmental stewardship on campus. Some of the initiatives under the program include: the recto-verso campaign (double-sided printing), waste and recycling audits, lug-a-mug campaign, and the composting program featuring two composting sites at both campuses.

• Sustainability Action Fund – a 25-cent per-credit student fee levy that totals approximately $150,000 per year.

• Campus Sustainability Assessment Project – conducted every 3 years the report aims to identify the obstacle and opportunities for sustainable development on campus.

• Two yearly events – Blueprints for Change: Sustainability Festival and Sustainable Business Conference.

• Concordia Greenhouse – a partnership with the department of Geography, Planning and Environment, the Henry F. Hall building rooftop greenhouse is used “towards education and research, sustainable horticulture, and community-building”.

The New Rural Economy Project
In its 12th year, this collaborative undertaking brings together “rural people, researchers, policy-analysts, the business community, and government agencies at all levels to identify and address vital rural issues.” Initiated in 1998 and led by Professor Bill Reimer form the Sociology and Anthropology department, the NRE project brings together 15 university researchers and 32 communities across the country focusing on four major themes: communication, environment, services and governance.

The School of Community and Public Affairs (SCPA)
The SCPA “is a place where academic life and activism strengthen one another” by integrating theory and practice. Since 1979, the SCPA has built close relationship with Montreal based community organizations, unions, and public and private institutions. The undergraduate and graduate diplomas offered allow students to immerse themselves in the ‘real world’ and actively contribute to strengthening community: “Values of social and economic justice, equity, participatory citizenship and democracy, as well as cultural pluralism are explored and fostered.”

University of Streets Café
An initiative of the Institute in Management and Community Development, the Café “creates gathering places for community members to pursue lifelong learning and engagement in the form of collective discussions.” The moderated public conversations held in cafes and other locations across Montreal are aimed to foster dialogue and build social cohesion around contentious issues. Since 2003, 45 ‘conversations’ have been held.