Mandate
The Sustainability Council is an advisory body to the President with responsibility for providing input and recommendations on how to advance York University’s sustainability initiatives, projects, and practices and to provide oversight of the required actions from approved recommendations. It is also a mechanism through which to support and enable York students, faculty and staff to participate meaningfully in the planning and implementation of York University’s sustainability policies, initiatives, projects and practices. It serves to foster the integration of knowledge and issues about sustainability into research, education and application.
| Objectives |
|---|
| Develop a framework for understanding the different dimensions of sustainability as relevant to the university's campuses; |
| Conduct assessments of sustainability to establish common understandings and benchmarks progress on advancing sustainability; |
| Provide a forum in which members may discuss sustainability challenges and opportunities to foster pan-university approaches to sustainability initiatives; |
| Identify and review current university sustainability practices and initiatives, and ascertain opportunities for synergies and engagement; |
| Through a planning/prioritization process, identify and examine specific high priority issues and develop recommendations for the President to consider implementing; |
| Develop communication tools that promote and enhance awareness of sustainability activities and initiatives, including the work of the Council, throughout the entire York community; and |
| Produce an annual report on sustainability at York relative to the Councils' Activities. |
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Leadership Awards
The York University President's Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize students, faculty and staff who are contributing to making York a leading university in sustainability. The purpose of the awards are to raise awareness on the important work that sustainability champions are doing at York, to provide much deserved recognition of their work, and to encourage others to get involved in sustainability initiatives on our campuses. Up to five (5) awards will be given out each year.
PSC Membership & Meetings
The President's Sustainability Council meets at least quarterly throughout the year with subcommittees establishing their own meeting schedules.