Learn More About Sustainability

environmental management plan

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

Mohawk was the first college in Ontario to adopt an environmental management plan that sets ambitious goals for carbon reduction and sustainable campus operations.

Learn more about the EMP

sustainable landscape plan

Sustainable Landscape Plan

The Sustainable Landscape Plan guides transformational sustainable practices that enhance and develop Mohawk's outdoor spaces. Key projects facilitate on-site food production, sustainable agriculture, stormwater harvesting, and a variety of collaborative and educational programs. 

View the Sustainable Landscape Plan [PDF]

sustainability reporting

Sustainability Reporting

Mohawk College is committed to honest reporting and evaluation of our sustainability initiatives, utilizing externally recognized methods and standards.

Impact Report »

The sustainability impact report provides a snapshot of sustainability initiatives and progress in campus operations, student engagement, and curriculum and research. The report also celebrates the successes of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP 2.0), with a special focus on the 2018/2019 academic year.

View the report or Download a PDF of the report (2.7mb)

Greenhouse Gas Inventory »

Daily activities at the college – like heating, cooling, lighting, and transportation – lead to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Measuring and understanding our emissions helps Mohawk College create sustainability programs, services and infrastructure that will reduce our impact and make the campus more sustainable.

Since 2007, Mohawk conducts GHG inventories on a regular basis. By comparing the results to previous inventories, we measure our progress towards the bold emissions reduction targets set out in the college’s environmental management plan.

View the GHG Inventories » 

AASHE STARS Report »

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS is a program of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and scores are used in the development of AASHE's annual Sustainable Campus Index. In 2018, Mohawk was named a “Top 3 Performer” among associate colleges in North America.

View the STARS report »

View the Sustainable Campus Index »

Annual Energy Report »

Mohawk College is committed to conducting business in ways which positively impact people, the environment and the economy. Mohawk’s Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2019-2024 [opens PDF] is in accordance with the Ministry of Energy’s O. Reg 25/23. This plan was created in an effort to help reduce the College’s demand for energy.

View Mohawk's Broader Public Sector Energy Reporting summary for the 2021 calendar year [PDF]

Past Energy Reports

View Mohawk's Broader Public Sector Energy Reporting summary for the 2020 calendar year [PDF]

View Mohawk's Broader Public Sector Energy Reporting summary for the 2019 calendar year [PDF]

View Mohawk's Broader Public Sector Energy Reporting summary for the 2018 calendar year [PDF]

View Mohawk's Broader Public Sector Energy Reporting summary for the 2017 calendar year [PDF]

View Mohawk's Broader Public Sector Energy Reporting summary for the 2016 calendar year [PDF]

Waste Audit Reports »

Mohawk measures its waste diversion by tracking the weights of materials sent to landfills versus those sent to recycling or compost facilities. These numbers can be found in our annual third-party waste audit reports.

Sustainability Volunteers

Collaboration and Partnerships

Through collaboration and partnerships, Mohawk demonstrates leadership in sustainability and supports the advancement of sustainability across Ontario colleges.

City School Sprouts »

 

A joint project between the Eva Rothwell Centre, Mohawk Sustainability and City School by Mohawk, the Sprouts program focuses on cultivating environmental stewardship and social entrepreneurialism among youth attending programs at the community centre. 

The students are taught how to care for their seedlings and the importance of healthy eating and sustainability. After a lesson in marketing and advertising, the seedlings are sold at an annual seeding sale to celebrate the end of the program.

Learn more »

Local Food Framework for Ontario Colleges »

In partnership with the Greenbelt Fund and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, Mohawk College led a research project to develop a local food procurement model for all 24 Ontario colleges.

The Local Food Framework for Ontario Colleges is a step-by-step guide to bringing more Ontario food to Ontario's colleges. The Framework provides templates, tools and resources to help college and foodservice staff procure, prepare and promote more local food on campus.

Campus Carbon Management Toolkit »

Supported by the Centre for Climate Change Management, the Campus Carbon Management Initiative (CCMI) is designed to amplify efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Ontario campuses. Over a 3 month period, the CCMI engaged Ontario colleges to identify key motivators, barriers to climate change action, and the resources necessary to support colleges in reducing energy and emissions.

Based on the research findings, the CCMI has developed a rich digital toolkit specifically for colleges to help accelerate their emissions reduction initiatives, promote collaborative efforts across Ontario campuses and help ensure their sustainability success.

Learn more about the CCMI »

View the Toolkit »