UBC Okanagan reduced its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 17 per cent between 2014 and 2015.
As detailed in its 2015 Carbon Neutral Action Overview Report, the reduction equates to 524 tonnes of GHGs, roughly the equivalent of the annual emission of 111 passenger vehicles or 1,213 barrels of oil.
“UBC’s commitment to sustainability has achieved ambitious emissions reductions that support federal, provincial, and municipal climate and sustainability goals,” says Deborah Buszard, UBC Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Okanagan campus.
As part of its commitment to GHG reduction, UBC Okanagan contributed $2.3 million in land for a new transit exchange on campus, which is being built in cooperation with the governments of Canada, British Columba and the City of Kelowna.
“Transit improvements are key to further reducing GHG emissions and UBC Okanagan is an important transit hub for the region,” says Buszard. “On behalf of UBC students, faculty and staff, thank you to the federal, provincial, and local governments for supporting increased transit capacity at the University and in our community.”
The campus’ carbon neutral report was part of UBC’s annual submission to the BC government’s Climate Action Secretariat. The province has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 80 per cent below 2007 levels by 2050.
“In 2015, the campus undertook a number of specific actions to ensure that we can continue to meet our GHG reduction goals, including replacing aging water heating equipment, lighting retrofits, and the use of digital over paper technology,” says Associate Director of Sustainability Operations Leanne Bilodeau. “Moving forward, we will focus on our whole systems goals, which will help us further reduce energy demands and GHG emissions.”
The Carbon Neutral Action report is available at: sustain.ok.ubc.ca/reports/cnar
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