Sustainability Memberships
Western University is a member of several local, regional, and global networks. Participation in these networks supports collaboration, learning and impact in sustainability. These networks represent a wide range of organizations working in the field of sustainability at different scales and with different focus areas. Participating in these networks helps Western to advance sustainability initiatives on campus and in partnership with other organizations.
Current Memberships
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE's mission is to inspire and catalyze higher education to lead the global sustainability transformation. AASHE empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. The organization works with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges.
One of AASHE's programs is the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), which Western has reported to since 2011.
Bee City Canada - Bee Campus
Bee City Canada's mission is to inspire cities, towns, First Nations, schools, businesses and other organizations to take action to protect pollinators. Western was the first Canadian university to become a Bee Campus in 2018. Visit the Pollinator Garden in Middlesex Parking Lot to spot butterflies, moths, birds and bees and learn more about Western's pollinator practices on our Bee Campus webpage.
London Environmental Network (LEN)
LEN's mission is to build participation, collaboration, and capacity in the community to co-create positive environmental change. By participating in the London Environmental Network, Western is able to strengthen connections to local community groups doing environmental work across many different facets of sustainability. LEN member organizations are doing work in areas such as: climate action, ecosystem health, environmental education, food systems, horticulture, pollination, transportation, waste reduction and water stewardship
Ontario College and University Sustainability Professionals (OCUSP)
OCUSP is dedicated to supporting sustainability personnel across post-secondary education in Ontario. The organization focuses on four primary activities:
- Networking for sustainability professionals
- Sharing of ideas and best practices between institutions
- Monitoring the environmental performance of institutions
- Advocating for collective action and policy positions for sustainability related issues in post secondary education in Ontario
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) works under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to mobilize the world's universities, think tanks, and national laboratories for action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; empower societies through free online education; and translate scientific evidence and ideas into solutions and accountability.
Learn more about Western's actions to advance the UN SDGs. Western has annual reports dating back to 2020 on campus initiatives related to advancing the SDGs, and the university became a member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network in 2023.
University Climate Change Coalition (UC3)
University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) is a core program of Second Nature that connects some of the world's leading research universities and university systems committed to accelerating climate action on campus, in communities, and at a global scale. The coalition is committed to applying its strengths in teaching, research and building community resilience.
In 2021 Western University was the fourth Canadian university to become a member of UC3 when we joined a network of 23 North American leading research universities in the coalition.
