DEC 22, 2015 – Laurentian University has joined the growing number of signatories to the Paris Pledge for Action, released December 16, 2015. The pledge is a commitment to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions immediately, to meet or surpass the goals of the Paris Agreement adopted at the recent COP21 conference. Laurentian University is among the first Canadian universities to sign the pledge.
According to the Paris Pledge for Action organization, the pledge represents “a unique opportunity for non-state actors to have their climate leadership recognized in the context of COP21.” Signatories “welcome the adoption of a new, universal climate agreement at COP21 in Paris, which is a critical step on the path to solving climate change. We pledge our support to ensuring that the level of ambition set by the agreement is met or exceeded. We will do this by taking concrete steps now, and without waiting for the entry into force of the agreement in 2020, both individually and cooperatively, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a safe level and build resilience against those changes already occurring.”
Laurentian University joins more than 1,000 cities, municipal and regional councils, companies, investors, civil society groups, labour organizations and other signatories from around the world to promote a low-carbon, stable, sustainable future, with the goal of limiting the global temperature rise to less than two degrees Celsius.
“Our institution is proud of the many sustainability-driven accomplishments achieved to date, through research innovation to develop technologies the world needs, or simply in our daily operations to continuously reduce our carbon footprint,” said Laurentian University’s Manager, Energy and Sustainability, Kati McCartney. “Signing this pledge is another sign of that commitment. We hope to inspire and motivate others to sign as well.”
“From research in lakes ecology and climate change monitoring to the globally-recognized re-greening project, Laurentian University has established itself as a leader in environmental sciences and sustainability,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “We remain committed to accelerating the transformative measures required to meet the challenges of climate change.”
In 2014 Laurentian University signed the Talloires Declaration, a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach along with over 400 colleges and universities in more than 40 countries.