About UNB Sustainability
UNB Sustainability is a team of full-time staff who work in the Energy & Sustainability Unit of the Capital Planning & Operations Department on our Fredericton campus, although their work is for both our Fredericton and Saint John campuses.
UNB Sustainability supports UNB in becoming a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship across Canadian universities; a key action in the UNB Toward 2030 Strategic Plan.
UNB’s approach to sustainability
By definition, sustainability is meeting the world’s current needs without hindering future generations from meeting their needs. This concept mirrors the known philosophy of many Indigenous groups, "seventh-generation," where people make choices based on the impact for hundreds of years into the future.
UNB views sustainability as a simultaneous pursuit to achieve economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social equality. You can read our Green Review article What is Sustainability? to learn more.
Our team
The Energy Manager (now Director of Energy & Sustainability) and the Energy Coordinator positions came before UNB Sustainability. When UNB Sustainability was established in 2014, a Sustainability Coordinator (now Manager of Sustainability) was hired to develop and implement programming. Since then, two more team members (the Climate Action Coordinator and the Sustainability Engagement Coordinator) have been added to support the team's growing list of sustainability initiatives.
Tom Gilmore
Nikole Watson
Sedona Cluett
Lisa Rickard
Bailey Saunders
UNB Sustainability timeline
2022 - The President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS) was established to replace the Sustainability Advisory Committee. The PACS is responsible for supporting the priorities and objectives of UNB's strategic plan, the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Change Action Plan by ensuring the University keeps environmental stewardship, climate adaptation, and reduction of our carbon footprint at the forefront of decision-making.
2021 - Added goals and strategies for the Saint John campus to our Campus Sustainability Plan.
2021 - Hired the first Sustainability Education and Engagement Officer (now Sustainability Engagement Coordinator).
2021 - Submitted our data to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)'s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program and received our first STARS rating (Silver) for the Saint John campus.
2020 - Submitted our data to the STARS program and received an updated rating (another Silver) for the Fredericton campus.
2020 - Launched our Campus Sustainability Plan, which includes goals and strategies for the Fredericton campus.
2020 - Launched our first Climate Change Action Plan, which includes goals and strategies for both campuses.
2017 - Submitted our data to the STARS program and received our first STARS rating (Silver) for the Fredericton Campus.
2017 - UNB became a member of the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
2016 - Hired the first Climate Change Officer (now Climate Action Coordinator).
2014 - UNB Sustainability was started, with the first Sustainability Coordinator (now Manager of Sustainability) being hired.
2013 - The Sustainability Advisory Committee was established to provide advice and guidance on the development of UNB's sustainability initiatives.
2011 - UNB became a member of the Atlantic Universities and Colleges Sustainability Network (AUCSN).
