This text is part of the special Higher Education notebook
Laval University announced the establishment of the Climate Action Fund at the beginning of September. Intended to finance committed initiatives in its community, the Fund was established in partnership with Coop Zone and Caisse Desjardins de l’Université.
“The primary objective of this fund is to give our community the tools to mobilize,” says François Gélineau, vice-rector for international affairs and sustainable development at Laval University (ULaval). The team responsible for its creation also promises non-financial support. “We want to empower our community. We want to be very concrete and propose actions to them,” declares the head of the sustainable development approach Pierre Lemay.
Although no precise date has yet been revealed for the launch of the first call for projects, the criteria for selecting initiatives have been well defined. To be eligible for this fund, the projects brought by the university community to the committee which will decide between them must be: innovative, agile and proactive, partnership and interdisciplinary, citizen and committed, inclusive and diverse, and international.
The distribution of the budget has not been fixed either, with the aim of being able to offer the initiatives fully adapted support. “We have not yet determined a precise number, because projects can take various forms,” explains François Gélineau. The creators of the Climate Action Fund hope that many ideas will see the light of day: “we want to instill the desire to get involved,” confides Pierre Lemay.
Laval University, an actor for the environment
The University has long been committed to the environmental cause. The creation of the Climate Action Fund is more broadly part of its 2023-2028 Institutional Plan, Acting together for more impact. The UniC international university network for climate action at ULaval, for example, was created in 2020. It also acquired the Sustainable Development Fund 15 years ago. This fund differs from that for climate action by being less specific and focused on the 17 sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations.
“We reached carbon neutrality in 2015,” cites François Gélineau as an example. The University also achieved platinum status in international STARS certification, a ranking system developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). “We have reached a stage where we want to mobilize our community,” says Mr. Gélineau.
Long-time partners
Laval University draws its strength, among other things, from its partnership with Caisse Desjardins and Coop Zone, both Fund stakeholders and active members of the university community. “When they presented the project to us, we immediately raised our hands! » rejoices the president of the board of directors of Caisse Desjardins Marie-Ève Myrand. “The Caisse should be part of the selection committee,” she specifies. This is not the first time that the organization has worked alongside the University for the environment. “As part of our fiftieth anniversary, we made a donation of $50,000 to the University’s Sustainable Development Fund,” recalls M.me Myrand.
A desire shared with the University’s other partner, Coop Zone. “We want to be involved from the start of the project. We also want to witness the results,” says general manager Éric Fong. A donation of $1 intended for the fund will be offered to customers during each transaction. A partner for many years, Coop Zone will also act on other levels. According to Mr. Fong, the cooperative’s customer service will be responsible for explaining the project’s issues to university customers. Coop Zone will be present at campus events to convey the message. Finally, she wants to sell promotional items made from recycled materials promoting the Climate Action Fund.
Push the scope of the project
At present, the Laval University community is not yet familiar with the creation of the Climate Action Fund. ” There are plenty [des étudiants] who are not aware that funds exist at the University,” indicates Éva Heitzmann, co-president of the French-speaking United Nations Simulation at Laval University. “I don’t feel like it’s particularly visible to the community,” she adds. François Gélineau announced that he wanted to launch communication about the project within the University very soon. The first call for projects should be launched by December.
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