University of Regina launches five-year environmental sustainability plan

REGINA – The University of Regina is adding environmental responsibility to its syllabus.

The school is rolling out a five-year strategy to explore ways of becoming more eco-friendly. It’s looking at various options such as installing water stations on campus and implementing new composting services.

“At a time of shrinking resources and challenges, we need to focus on sustainability in many ways and some of it is going to require resources for us to invest,” said U of R president Vianne Timmons.

The plan addresses five key areas of interest such as waste, energy, transportation, leadership, and communication and engagement.

“It focuses on transportation, on waste, on reducing plastic on campus, on well being, on change in curriculum,” said Timmons.

“I don’t think you’ll see anything dramatic, but you’ll see incremental changes over the next five years that will change the face of the campus.”

The strategy took three years to come together. During that time, the university gathered input from more than 1,400 staff and students.

“I think that’s really the cornerstone of sustainability,” said Nwakaku Okere, a third year environmental engineering student.

“There can’t just be one definition. What is sustainability to me might not be what’s sustainability to someone else and how do you integrate those viewpoints.”

The university says it also will look at expanding its recycling program and work with the City of Regina to improve transit services.