Concordia launches its Sustainability Action Plan 2026–30
Concordia is set to launch its Sustainability Action Plan 2026–30, updating the university’s sustainability priorities across campus operations, teaching and learning, research and community engagement. The plan will be celebrated with a flagship event for Campus Sustainability Month on September 29 at 4TH SPACE.
Five streams from the initial plan will continue: food, waste, climate, research and curriculum. Procurement and biodiversity have been added as two new areas of focus.
Concordia has made significant progress since the launch of its first Sustainability Action Plan in 2020. The university earned a STARS gold designation from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and advanced major sustainability projects such as PLAN/NET ZERØ and Volt-Age. Concordia also transitioned its Inter-Generational Fund toward purpose-driven and sustainable investments.
“The strides Concordia has made since 2020 show what is possible when our community takes ownership of sustainability,” says Concordia President Graham Carr. “The new plan builds on that momentum and challenges us to keep thinking differently about how we can make meaningful progress together.”
Commitments span operations, research and academics
The updated plan includes priorities such as reducing the environmental impact of teaching and research laboratories, strengthening food security, improving biodiversity on campus and integrating sustainability considerations into purchasing decisions.
The plan also reflects the university’s growing commitment to impactful research, open science and inclusive research assessments.
“Adding procurement and biodiversity to the second plan gives Concordia new opportunities to examine how sustainability is built into the way the university operates,” says Michael Di Grappa, vice-president of services and sustainability.
“These areas complement the work already underway while expanding where the university can make a difference.”
The new plan also builds sustainability into Concordia’s academic mission: two new interdisciplinary courses have been developed as part of the plan, alongside a Campus Lab initiative designed to connect students with hands-on sustainability projects.
Concordia has also made a commitment to increase overall enrolment in sustainability courses and programs.
“Experiential learning can help make sustainability part of the student experience in practical ways,” says Sabrina Lavoie, associate vice-president, campus services and sustainability. “The action plan strengthens the connections between our operational efforts and the way Concordia teaches, conducts research and engages with its community.”
A plan by and for Concordians
Community participation was central to developing the action plan. The process built on Concordia’s Voluntary University Review, an institutional self-assessment that examined the university’s activities related to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and identified opportunities to deepen its sustainability efforts.
It also included targeted and public engagement, giving participants opportunities to provide feedback on proposed projects and identify areas for alignment and collaboration.
“The process reflected how sustainability spans the campus community and connects with many other university priorities and commitments," says Cassandra Lamontagne, manager of the Office of Sustainability. "We are excited to move forward on the collaborations that were built and that will continue to be strengthened as we implement the plan."
Implementation will rely on shared responsibility across the university, with each action tied to one or more lead units. Progress tracking will involve key performance indicators and annual reporting. Academic programs, courses and other initiatives will support community participation in the plan and its objectives.
Sustainability will remain part of Concordia’s broader institutional priorities amid the financial and resource pressures facing the university.
“The plan offers a clear, realistic roadmap for prioritizing choices, making decisions and moving forward with meaningful actions,” Carr says. “Our commitment to making Concordia a leader in sustainability remains unwavering.”
Learn more about Concordia’s Sustainability Action Plan 2026–30.