May 2, 2023
Vancouver, BC - snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College has announced it has signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Accord (SDG). Langara College joins learning institutions around the world in a commitment to advance the SDGs. As part of the College's commitment, the College will report on how it advances on the 17 SGDs annually.
"We advance sustainability when we value it," said Dr. Paula Burns, President and CEO. "By signing the SDG Accord, Langara answers the call from United Nations to empower economic, social, environmental advancements in sustainability through higher education."
The SDG Accord inspires, celebrates, and advances education's critical role in delivering the United Nation's 17 goals and the value it brings to governments, businesses, and wider society.
“We are so proud to see our members standing out as leaders in sustainability by signing the SDG Accord. With each new signatory, we can achieve more as a sector to contribute to positive change for people, communities, and the planet. Congratulations, Langara College,” said Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada.
The Accord is also a commitment learning institutions are making to share, report, and deliver their achievements, goals, and learnings with each other—nationally and internationally.
"We belong to a global network of learning institutions working together to support the UN's 17 SDGs," shared Margaret Heldman, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. "Academia provides great research and leadership opportunities to act on the collective responsibility to foster safe and healthy spaces for our students to learn."
The College has also been consecutively awarded high distinctions from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) program. AASHE STAR's silver rating is a significant milestone, showcasing Langara's leadership in sustainability initiatives on the global stage.
Langara College has been mitigating climate action through sustainability initiatives such as student-led Sustainability Ambassadors and energy management. Currently, the campus has four LEED Gold-certified buildings and has consistently reduced energy and GHG emissions annually. Additionally, the College's ongoing Central Heating Plant project expects to save the College an additional 15-25% of GHG emissions.
About snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College provides university-level education to more than 19,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as snəw̓eyəɬ leləm, 'house of teachings', a name given to it by Musqueam, on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located.
Learn more.
Mark Dawson
Manager, Public Affairs
Langara College
mdawson@langara.ca
