Students raising their hands in a classroom (Photo by: Jacob Wackerhausen/ iStock / Getty Images Plus)Students raising their hands in a classroom (Photo by: Jacob Wackerhausen/ iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Midwestern

Upper Grand District School Board launches Sustainability and Climate Action Plan

The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) has launched a new five-year Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.

The new plan will run from this year until 2030, and aims to target seven key areas of focus.

Those are energy, waste, water, procurement, transportation, engagement, and environmental leadership.

According to UGDSB, this plan will aid the school board in reducing energy intensity by 12 per cent by 2028 (from the 2023 baseline). It will also help transition toward low-carbon heating and renewable energy, standardize recycling and composting across all schools and expand real-time water monitoring to cut waste.

UGDSB adds that it will integrate sustainable designs into any new schools and renovations to current buildings. There will also be an emphasis on supporting active travel through safe walking and biking routes, while empowering students and staff to lead sustainability initiatives in their schools and communities.

"The plan highlights some of the many ways the UGDSB is decreasing our carbon footprint, conserving energy and reducing the resources needed to operate our schools and work spaces. This includes the installation of solar panels and heat pumps, reducing water consumption and waste, promoting active transportation, and launching environmental leadership programs," said UGDSB Director of Education Peter Sovran.

Read the full plan here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/page/sustainability-and-climate-action-plan

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