By Sarvenaz Kermanshahi and Adam Mantha

One hundred and twenty-five post-secondary institutions across the world — 19 of which are Canadian — have established sustainability policies and offices to implement them, as mandated by the 1990 Talloires Declaration on the responsibility of universities to create and implement green policies.

Western, a signatory of the declaration, has yet to fulfill its commitment. In recent years, two separate proposals to establish a sustainability policy and office have been submitted to the Western administration. Neither has been adopted.

In late January, Tom Ewart, a graduate student and research assistant at the Richard Ivey School of Business, presented administration with a long-term, comprehensive plan to pursue sustainability in policy format.

In his presentation to the Strategic Planning Task Force, Ewart proposed the creation of a sustainability policy and office. The committee heard financial, operational and ethical imperatives for adopting a green policy and office.

Ewart also presented a sample yearly budget of approximately $200,000 for a sustainability office that could co-ordinate and implement campus sustainability initiatives, conduct a sustainability assessment, and raise awareness in the campus community.

In June, the draft report of the Strategic Planning Task Force was issued. The document did not deliver the commitment to sustainability policy Ewart and EnviroWestern hoped to see.

“What is important is that there be a commitment and a vision, supported with money, from the top administrators at Western,” said Johanna Bradie, EnviroWestern co-ordinator. “Such a vision would bring together all of our fragmented activities so that they work together for the maximum benefit.”

The administration hasn’t explained its decision. In an e-mail response, however, Gitta Kulczycki, VP-operations and resources, and Fred Longstaffe, VP-education, said Western encourages and applauds the efforts of students to propose and pursue sustainability measures.

“Not adopting a sustainability policy is also going to hurt us in the medium to long term,” Bradie said. “This stuff gets noticed, and our main competitors have been building their reputations on sustainability for some time.”

Bradie said a number of Canadian institutions have reaped considerable savings from their sustainability initiatives. Since 1999, the University of British Columbia has saved $8.2 million through its sustainability initiatives and has gained an international reputation for its efforts.

“As sustainability becomes important to more people, these schools are going to beat us out of the top students and researchers, the research money, not to mention the private philanthropy,” Bradie said.

The second proposal for a sustainability office came from professors in Western’s Faculty of Science.

In November 2005, at the request of the administration, the Western Environmental Education Working Group (EnvEdWG) submitted a proposal for an interdisciplinary program that would make Western a leader in sustainability and the environmental consciousness.

The Co-Chair of EnvEdWG, Robert Bailey, was happy to take on the task. Bailey said he’d wanted a department devoted to environment and sustainability for years.

EnvEdWG began brainstroming ideas in November 2005. Bailey said he submitted a School of Environmental & Sustainability Proposal in August, which suggested the creation of a new department.

The department would offer minor, major, and specialization modules focusing on practical issues like farming and water treatment, and would provide the opportunity for undergraduate students to get involved in research.

Bailey also suggested the department assume management of a new sustainability office in charge of monitoring, assessing and proposing plans to enhance sustainability, as well as educating and engaging the Western community.

Administration is currently reviewing EnvEdWG’s proposals for a sustainability department and office. EnvEdWG hopes to launch the department by July 1, 2008.

Bailey defended Western’s lack of a sustainability office. He pointed out the university has tremendously reduced its physical waste, power consumption, and emissions with an excellent recycling program and modifications to the university’s operations.

He did say, however, there is a lack of community involvement.