Welcome to the inaugural issue of ‘Sustainable YU,’ a special edition of YFile that showcases stories about sustainability in action at York University.
This special issue, which will publish on select Fridays during the academic year, offers compelling and accessible feature-length stories. The articles and features contained in this publication illustrate the work underway by students, faculty and staff across all Faculties and divisions at York University to achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) – a key pillar of Building a Better Future: York University Academic Plan 2020-2025 – a guiding document published earlier this year.
The editors of ‘Sustainable YU’ and I want to hear from you. Do you have an SDG story you can share with us that showcases an initiative or project happening at York University that supports our efforts to achieve the UN SDGs?
We welcome stories from students, faculty, staff, and other groups in the York University community. You can share your stories here and include a narrative, photos and/or videos. We welcome all contributions no matter how big or small – everything has an impact.
We look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know what you think about ‘Sustainable YU’ by contacting me at sustainability@yorku.ca.
Nicole Arsenault
Program Director, Sustainability
Featured in this issue of ‘Sustainable YU’
York University posts top scores in Times Higher Education Global Impact Ranking 2021
This year, York has placed 11th in Canada and 67th overall against 1,115 post-secondary institutions from 94 different countries. The THE Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The ranking compares universities on research, stewardship, outreach and teaching across 17 categories. Read full story.
A community empowered to protect our planet
One of the core values of York University is sustainability. York’s continued dedication and leadership in this space is reflected in the document Building a Better Future: York University Academic Plan 2020-2025, which challenges students, faculty and staff to elevate their contributions to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals. Read full story.
New student-driven initiative offers a hub for students to take action on the SDGs
The SDG Student Hub, a new student-driven initiative launched in fall 2020 by York University’s Sustainability Office, is helping students of all disciplines learn about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take action to help achieve them. Read full story.
York University’s Custodial Services staff are deep into clean with environmentally safe products
Balancing being green and clean takes dedication and training. When you take into account an institution as large as York University and a global pandemic, the focus needs to be laser sharp. Read full story.
York University sustainability champion Mark Terry pens one-act play that will be staged on Zoom, April 23
Mark Terry, course director in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and research associate with the Dahdeleh Institute for Global Health Research, has partnered with Whitby’s Beech Street Theatre Company to present a play on climate change. Titled, ‘The Four Seasons,’ it will premiere on Friday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m., for one night only, on Zoom. Read full story.
Lassonde’s BEST program students hack United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
Students in the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (BEST) program based at the Lassonde School of Engineering, took up the sustainability challenge during a recent hack-a-thon. Read full story.
Launched in April 2021, ‘Sustainable YU’ is produced out of the Office of the Vice-President Finance & Administration Research & Innovation in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs.