U of G’s Sustainability Office has published a report summarizing current sustainability initiatives on campus and gains made since the Presidential Task Force on Sustainability released its recommendations in January 2011.

Appointed last fall, sustainability director Maurice Nelischer says that during his first year in the role, he has been continually amazed by the many initiatives underway in all corners of the university. “Students and faculty have addressed the issue through classroom, research and community participation. Non-academic units, including physical resources and hospitality services, have also made significant efforts to reduce our ‘footprint.’ When these actions are considered together, we can see what a great impact they are making.”

The 2011-2012 progress report reaffirms the unit’s mandate: to encourage sustainability in the academic and operational aspects of the University and to help students develop a set of values that will allow them to make sustainable decisions throughout their lives.

“I am confident we will continue to reduce our resource use and move to a better campus,” adds Nelischer. “Seeing all of our efforts documented in one place is a powerful message.”

Click here to read Sustainable Guelph.

Nelischer also asks the University community to consider making a tax-deductible donation to the campus sustainability fund through The BetterPlanet Project campaign.