Climate Action
Carbon Neutrality
Lakehead recognizes and embraces the responsibility of universities to support societies in their transition toward sustainability. We are committed to taking decisive action on climate change, by reducing our campus’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through Scope 1 emissions produced directly by sources owned or controlled by the university and Scope 2 emissions produced indirectly by products or services purchased.
The climate action plans of Thunder Bay and Orillia, home to both of our campuses, aim for carbon neutrality by 2050. Lakehead is a stakeholder in the creation of both of these plans and supports efforts toward these net-zero goals on campus and in our communities.
In addition, Lakehead will continue to build on our existing climate action commitments, such as the completed divestment of our endowment fund from the fossil fuel industry and our participation in the ‘Investing to Address Climate Change Charter,’ by taking on new initiatives toward a climate secure future.
Divestment and the Year of Climate Action
On November 26th, 2020, Lakehead confirmed its leadership on climate change by announcing it is divesting its endowment of fossil fuel stocks, the sixth Canadian university to do so. In December of 2022, Lakehead successfully completed its divestment– well ahead of schedule. Building on this accomplishment and recognizing the need for more bold steps to tackle climate change, Lakehead University declared the 2021/2022 academic year as the Year of Climate Action (YOCA).
YOCA was intended to:
-Recognize the causes and consequences of climate change, and the steps that we need to take to restore our relationships with each other and the land. And an opportunity to reflect on the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and how our actions should advance on social, environmental and climate justice, including intergenerational inequity.
-Rise up, Regenerate, Transition, and Sustain.
-Create the possibility for change that is amplified when we work together.
YOCA was an invitation, a call to action, and an opportunity for faculty, staff, administration, students, and our larger community to collectively join together to listen, learn, share, and most importantly act on climate change.
Investing to Address Climate Change Charter
Continuing our leadership in sustainability and climate action, in 2020 Lakehead signed on to the Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities.
As a signatory to the Climate Change Charter, Lakehead University pledges to further strengthen our commitment to responsible investment and acknowledges the important role Canadian universities play in establishing a sustainable future for everyone. Signatories commit to adhering by the following principles and practices, and encourage other universities to do the same.
-Adopt a responsible investing framework to guide investment decision-making, in line with recognized standards such as the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (UN-PRI).
-Regularly measure the carbon intensity of our investment portfolios, and set meaningful targets for their reduction over time
-Evaluate progress towards these objectives on a regular basis, and share the results of such assessments publicly.
-Ensure that the performance evaluation of our investment managers takes into account their success in achieving such objectives, alongside the other criteria for assessing their performance
Sustainable Development Goals
Lakehead is committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations Member States. The SDGs recognize that inequality, in its many forms, must be tackled simultaneously with other sustainability initiatives. These include ending poverty and hunger along with providing quality education and sustainable campuses and communities. Achieving the SDGs requires cross-sector collaboration and local and global partnerships to advance these aims.
Through our commitment to access, innovative programming, teaching and learning, and exceptional research, Lakehead leverages our ability to mobilize all aspects of our community, including students and future changemakers, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry, community and Indigenous partners, to drive local and global change aligned to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Lakehead University is also embedding our commitment to social responsibility across its operations, taking steps to model social and environmental justice in our policies, procedures, decisions, platforms, and systems. Learn more about how Lakehead is excelling at implementing the SDG's here.