Petition to MRU Administration to Take Leadership on the Global Ecological Crisis

Petition created by the Working Group on Climate Change

CALL TO ACTION:

We the undersigned ask the administration at Mount Royal University (MRU) to make environmental sustainability an institutional priority. As an academic institution, MRU has a responsibility to educate about current and pressing global issues. Given the growing risks to future flourishing the university should increase support for and take leadership on environmental sustainability and climate change initiatives. A meaningful commitment to sustainability and leadership includes:

• Build reduction targets and sustainability goals into the strategic plan, with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by at least 45% by 2030 and plans to become a carbon sink by 2050. U of C has a plan for 50% reduction by 2030.
• Committing to the practice of Engineering for Sustainability. This includes providing support and incentives for: 1) Reduction of consumption from occupant behavior and operational changes; 2) Equipment optimization; and 3) Alternative energy options.

Specific ways to do this:

• Strike a task force of faculty, staff, students and partner institutes to identify priorities and develop action plans to meet goals. This should be facilitated through an MRU Sustainability Office and Officer.
• Prepare comparative analyses and data-driven annual reports that compare the progress at MRU to that of other post-secondary institutions.
• This should be done with the intention of sharing best practices for carbon and environmental footprint reduction (e.g., the U.K. Green Impact program).
• Regularize education about existing initiatives on campus to promote awareness and hope.
• Increase support for future sustainability initiatives.
• Offer more sustainability focused and climate-informed curriculum through development of new courses and/or modernization of existing courses.
• Through consultation with Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers, identify partnership opportunities with local Indigenous ecological initiatives such as the Blackfoot Confederacy’s Ecological Guardianship project. This will expand opportunities for the MRU community to learn sustainable practices from Indigenous communities.
• Provide more sustainable food services. This includes: providing more vegetarian and vegan options; eliminating waste, especially single-use plastics waste; increasing locally sourced food options, including food produced in MRU greenhouses and gardens.
• Incentivize lower emission modes of transportation including: public transportation, walking, biking, EV, hybrid vehicles and carpooling.
• Disincentivize private gas-powered vehicles. Support electric and hybrid vehicle use through expansion of level 2 charging stations at parking lots across campus.
• Budget for increased reliance on alternative energy solutions (e.g. geothermal and solar).

Why is this Needed?

We have already experienced the impacts of climate change. These impacts are costing Albertans and Canadians billions of dollars. With scientists questioning our ability to limit global heating below 1.5°C, the climate crisis poses a threat to current and future well-being and prosperity for our students, Albertans, and humanity. This climate crisis demands action by universities, committed to rational enquiry, scientific truth, and justice. As an institution that prides itself on providing post-secondary education that offers future-focused programs that prepare students for success in our uncertain modern world, it is our responsibility to promote teaching and learning about current and complex global problems like climate change and take concrete steps to make a difference.

For additional scientific context see here.

At MRU, students, staff, and faculty have been leading initiatives that promote and educate the MRU community about climate change and environmental sustainability. MRU has committed to Indigenization and decolonization, which in part means learning about ways to develop a deeper sense of responsibility toward more sustainable relationships with the natural world. These initiatives demonstrate the devotion of the MRU community to sustainable thinking and living. What is lacking is an overarching vision from the institution to unify these initiatives, including a bold climate and sustainability pledge. As a community, we should be signaling the importance of these initiatives and how they fit into a path to reduce our carbon footprint by nearly half by 2030 and become a carbon sink by 2050. As the leaders of technological innovation, universities should lead the way as models for low carbon living. As an institution committed to student health and mental well being, we must commit to establishing a sustainable future for all and move forward in a spirit of collaboration between students, faculty, staff, and administration.

For an outline of MRU initiatives that are underway, see here.

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