Sustainability Certificate

In this introductory session, attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about what sustainability means, key global issues, the relevance for academic institutions, and what Waterloo is doing.

Note: Prior to attending this module, participants will be asked to complete the Sustainability Literacy Assessment. This is an internationally-recognized test to benchmark existing knowledge about sustainability issues. It is comprised of 30 multiple choice questions. There is no passing grade for the purpose of the Waterloo's Sustainability Certificate. Login information will be provided.

In this session, attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about climate change, from the local to global levels, and learn how Waterloo is involved. It will explore both the science and personal action, and empower attendees with tools and resources to understand and reduce their personal energy and carbon footprint, at home and at work.

In this session, attendees will discuss the role of sustainable transportation in terms of environmental impact, community development, and personal health. The discussion will outline programs and initiatives available on campus to support employees, and infrastructure development across the community.

In this session, attendees will join a guided discussion about the impacts that food systems can have on health and the environment. It will focus on current issues such as local food, meat-based diets, and food labelling (such as organic, genetically-modified organisms, and eco-certifications), and empower employees to make better purchasing decisions.

In this session, attendees will explore the concept of the circular economy, and how this is relevant to individual purchasing decisions and product disposal. It will challenge participants to think differently about how they buy items at home and at work, and will provide interactive waste reduction training and resources, including composting and recycling.

In this session, attendees will explore broad global issues related to biodiversity and human impact on the natural environment, as well as how ecosystems impact humans. It will discuss value that nature can bring to employees in terms of mental health and aesthetics, and ways to integrate nature in the office and protect it at home.

In this session, attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about how they can step into sustainability-related leadership roles and support their colleagues and peers. It will provide an introduction to communicating sustainability, outline “behaviour change” basics, and review on-campus initiatives such as the Green Office program.