Skip to main content Skip to site utility navigation Skip to main site navigation Skip to site search Skip to footer
Login
Hide Menu
Menu

Sustainability Policy

Ref. No. Executive sponsor Policy steward Approval authority First approved Last reviewed Effective date Next review
77.01 Vice President, College Services and Strategy Manager, Infrastructure, Sustainability & Space Planning Board of Governors 2004 Dec. 14, 2023 Dec. 14, 2023 Dec. 2024
  1. Purpose
    1. Nova Scotia Community College recognizes sustainability as a strategic priority and values it in all aspects of our operations. As a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goal Accord, we recognize:
      1. The indivisible and interconnected nature of the universal set of Goals – People, Prosperity, Planet, Partnership, Peace.
      2. That, as educators, we have a responsibility to play a central and transformational role in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
    2. The purpose of this policy is to support our commitment to sustainability in a broad context.
    3. This policy operates in compliance with The Environment Act and the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act (2021).
  1. Scope
    1. This policy applies to everyone in the NSCC community.
  1. Definitions
Term Definition
BOMA Best (BOMA: Building Owners and Managers Association, BEST: Building Environmental Standards) was developed to facilitate a consistent approach to measuring and managing the environmental performance of a building and is assessed in terms of energy use, water use, waste management, environmental communications, and indoor environmental quality.
STARS The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) is a tool for measuring how well a post-secondary institution embeds sustainability in all aspects of what they do.
SDGs The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. The UN recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change, promoting environmental equity and working to preserve oceans and forests.
  1. Policy
    1. Our Commitment
      We are committed to:
      1. Sustainability as a cycle of continual learning and improvement, where our day-to-day actions sustain or improve quality of life for future generations.
      2. Embedding and aligning efforts with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets and indicators, including through our education, research, leadership, operational and engagement activities.
      3. Meeting and exceeding regulatory requirements related to sustainability, the environment and human health.
      4. Minimizing environmental impact through:
        1. Minimizing the consumption of energy, water, and resources.
        2. Minimizing the generation of solid waste and maximizing the amount of waste diverted from landfill.
        3. Incorporating sustainable campus design and planning principles.
        4. Maintaining sound environmental risk management practices.
        5. Maintaining healthy and safe buildings.
        6. Embedding sustainability-minded procurement policies and procedures.
      5. Leadership in sustainability through maintaining:
        1. A climate change action plan.
        2. An active Campus Sustainability Committees that report to the Sustainability Steering Committee.
        3. A Sustainability Steering Committee comprised of a representative from each campus.
        4. An SDG Committee to develop, monitor and report on performance metrics related to the SDGS.
        5. BOMA BEST certification for sustainable campus operations.
        6. STARS recertification for institution-wide sustainability performance.
      6. Accountability and Reporting:
        1. NSCC will report annually to the Board of Governors and the community on college wide progress towards achieving sustainability goals.
  1. Policy Supports

Additional Resources

Top