Sustainability Month and you

October is Sustainability Month, which means it’s time for all of us to look at ways we can get involved in developing a more climate-friendly University of Manitoba.

Here are everyday things you can do to get involved in the four key areas of our Climate Action Plan.

Energy and buildings

Energy use is the largest driver of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at UM. While there are large projects ongoing to reduce heating-related GHG emissions, there are a few simple things you can do to help us reduce the energy we use:

• Switch off lights and devices you’re not using and when exiting rooms
• Dress more warmly instead of turning up the heat
• Only use space heaters when necessary
• Create an energy use reduction agreement with colleagues

Transportation

Transportation, including commuting to and from campus, business travel and the UM vehicle fleet, is the second-largest contributor to our GHG emissions each year. Luckily transportation is one of the easiest areas in which UM students, faculty and staff can get involved:

• Use active transportation methods to get to campus, like cycling or walking
• Carpool: Find a friend or three and commute to campus together
• Instead of driving from building to building at the Fort Garry campus, take the free shuttle
• Take public transportation; There are several routes to UM, along with park and ride options

Waste

The third-largest source of GHG emissions at UM is the waste we produce and send to landfills. The first and most important step in waste reduction is being conscious of the waste you generate. From there, you can take steps toward reducing and reusing:

• Use refillable coffee mugs and water bottles
• Ensure you’re placing waste, organics and recyclables in the correct bins
• Pack reusable containers and bags for lunch or shopping
• Participate in Waste Reduction Week (Oct. 21 to 27) and decide how you can reduce the waste you create

Land

As our campus continues to grow, efficient, respectful and sustainable land use is highly important. You can get directly involved in how UM supports the land we have the privilege of inhabiting:

• Leave natural spaces in the same condition as you found them
• Use active transportation methods that place less stress on our infrastructure
• Educate yourself and others on the history of the lands on which our campuses sit

There are numerous ways for all of us to get directly involved in building toward a more sustainable future for UM and our planet.

And if you are interested in adding sustainability courses to your degree, UM offers more than 900 courses across 85 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level that focus on or relate to sustainability. 

If you have any questions about initiatives and how you can help, please contact the Office of Sustainability.