Sustainable Development at Bishop’s University

Be Engaged. Be Purple. BU

We at BU understand the urgency of the climate crisis and have committed to being part of the solution as outlined in our ambitious Sustainable Development Plan. We have a responsibility to protect our 550-acre campus located on the unceded territory of the Abenaki, reduce our footprint, and stimulate education and participation from our community. We promote sustainability as an overarching principle for all our activities and strategic priorities and seek to integrate principles of sustainability into our academic programs and our individual and institutional activities. We have a goal to becoming carbon neutral by the year 2030 and we intend to meet this target!

Check out some of our ongoing projects!

2020-2024

Bishop’s Sustainable Development Plan & Policy

Planting 10,500 trees, reducing car traffic on campus, promoting grass roots initiatives, purchasing responsibly… these are just some of the initiatives in our Sustainable Development Plan. We encourage you to read it and join us!

Green Levy Fund

From being one of the first campus in Canada to ban the sale of water bottles on campus, to our investments in a geothermal energy solution that has reduced our CO2 emissions by 2300 tons per year compared to 2006, Bishop’s University strives to be a leader in sustainability.

Learn more about this fund!

Proud to be a

Fair Trade Campus

Bishop’s University is proud to be designated as a FairTrade Campus!

Sustainable Food System

We made it!

Bishop’s University Achieves Carbon Neutrality Ahead of 2030 Target

Bishop’s has reduced its GHG emissions from owned and controlled sources as well as from purchased energy by more than 50% since 2007. This significant milestone allows us today to achieve net-zero emissions seven years before our goal mainly as a result of three key initiatives. Want to know more?

Read our PDF Report for more details

Sustainability-related Clubs

GET BUSY!

Want to get involved with an existing club and make a difference? Or maybe start your own? Clubs are an amazing way to meet new people, learn new skills, or test new ideas.

For the complete list of clubs, see the SRC

A student led club that organizes activities and events about environmental issues on campus. They promote sustainable lifestyle and educate the community throughout workshops and activities about transportation, waste and responsible consumption.

B.U. Environmental Club on Instagram

B.U. Environmental Club on Facebook

The SAFS Club is a student organization to promote sustainability through agriculture and food systems activities. By cooperating with the Educational Farm, they offer workshops such as harvesting produce, permaculture practices, maple syrup production, and foraging excursions.

The SAFS Club on Instagram

The SAFS Club on Facebook

An apiculture club that promotes ecological bee keeping practices. The students involved have the chance to experience hive management and honey extraction.

Bishop’s Bees on Instagram

Bishop’s Bees on Facebook

A student-led club that promotes outdoors activities! Being frequently in contact with nature is a pillar of environmental education and care for conservation!

B.U. Outdoor Adventures on Instagram

B.U. Outdoor Adventures on Facebook

Students working in the field as part of the sustainable agriculture program

Programs & Research

Bishop’s offers a diverse array or programs to help develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow. Take a look and find the right choice for you. With an active and evolving Educational Farm located on campus, Bishop’s is providing leading research in critical areas of sustainability. This research leads to direct experiential learning opportunities for students.

Sustainability-related programs & research

Courses

Bishop’s offers dozens of courses across multiple departments that are tied to understanding climate, sustainability and our environment. Browse through the many opportunities and complement your schedule and your studies with these different perspectives.

Sustainability-related courses

Meet the Team

Richard Noel

Director of Buildings & Grounds

Richard integrates sustainability in all University’s operations regarding buildings and grounds (heating systems, construction projects, infrastructures, facilities maintenance, and land management).

Laurence Williams

Sustainable Development Advisor

Laurence coordinates the actions and projects related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Plan.

Contact Laurence at: laurence.williams@ubishops.ca

Sustainable Development Student Interns (SDSI)

The SDSI role is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of the Elizabeth Harvey Memorial Sustainable Development Fund and the Kruger Inc. Sustainable Development Internship Fund.

SDSI Annual Reports

Mikayla Kaminski

Sustainable Development Graduate Intern (SDGI)

Nicole Rindisbacher

Sustainable Development Student Intern (SDSI) in Communications

Andra Quilliams

Sustainable Development Student Intern (SDSI)

Want to know more or get involved with Sustainability @ BU?

We have many opportunities open to students, faculty, and staff who want to get involved in improving sustainability on campus, including but not limited to; FairTrade Campus, tree care and biodiversity, sustainable waste management, responsible investments, sustainable transportation and more.