Sustainability Action Plan
Sustainability is integral to Concordia’s mission as a next-generation university. It shapes how the university teaches, conducts research, manages its campuses and works with communities to address today’s environmental, social and economic challenges.
Advancing sustainability at Concordia
The Sustainability Action Plan 2026-30 is Concordia’s second university-wide sustainability action plan. Building on the achievements of the 2020-25 Sustainability Action Plan, it provides a coordinated framework for advancing sustainability across campus operations, teaching and learning, research and community engagement over the next four years.
The plan includes a focus on:
- sustainable food systems
- zero waste
- climate action
- sustainable procurement
- biodiversity
- sustainability in research
- sustainability in the curriculum
Building on a strong foundation
The Sustainability Action Plan was developed through a collaborative process involving students, faculty, staff and administrative units from across Concordia.
Development included community consultation, alignment with major university priorities, project development, public engagement and project review before final approval of the plan.
Projects were developed in consideration of important university priorities identified in the:
The result is a coordinated framework that establishes shared stream topics, identifies actions and supports implementation through governance, collaboration and ongoing progress monitoring.
Sustainability at Concordia
As defined in Concordia’s Sustainability Policy (BD-7), sustainability is a mindset and a process that leads to reducing the university’s ecological footprint and enhancing social well-being while maintaining economic viability both on and off campus.
- This process has been developed through a governance system based on shared vision and responsibility that fulfills Concordia’s current needs without compromising the needs of future generations.
- To be sustainable in decisions and activities is to take a long-range perspective, recognize resource capacities and balance the interconnected nature of the environment, society and economy.
Explore the Sustainability Action Plan
The Sustainability Action Plan brings together two complementary elements, from how it will be implemented to the stream topics that guide sustainability efforts across the university.
Implementing the Action Plan
Discover how the Action Plan will be implemented through governance, shared responsibilities, performance measurement and regular progress reporting.
Stream topics
Explore the Action Plan’s stream topics and learn how they guide sustainability efforts across campus operations, teaching and learning, research and community engagement.
Questions?
Have questions about the Sustainability Action Plan or its implementation? Contact Cassandra Lamontagne, manager of the Office of Sustainability, at cassandra.lamontagne@concordia.ca.
Territorial acknowledgement
I/We would like to begin by acknowledging that Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
