Championing collective excellence.
Petition created by the Working Group on Climate Change
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:
Specific ways to do this:
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.