The University of Manitoba alongside 14 of Canada’s other leading universities have united to tackle climate change by pledging to follow environmentally responsible investment practices.
As a co-signatory of the charter Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities, UM recognizes its important role in mitigating climate change and has pledged to follow the United Nations’ Principles in Responsible Investing framework. This charter unites Canadian universities the financial marketplace, leveraging their collective investments to reduce carbon emissions through shareholder activism that can bring about positive change.
“UM understands the role higher education plays in addressing climate change and how we and our partners provide a path forward through academic research and learning, as well as through our operations and investment activities,” says David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor at UM. “As educators and producers of knowledge, we have the power to enhance our understanding of the principals of sustainability and to advance discovery and identify solutions. This is a responsibility we take seriously.”
In 2019, UM achieved a ‘Gold Stars’ rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, who ranked UM in their top 10 in the categories of Coordination and Planning and Research. UM’s research and scholarly expertise has also lead it to be designated as the United Nations Academic Impact hub to help the international agency achieve its sustainable development goal related to clean water and sanitation. This new charter continues to advance UM as leaders in environmental stewardship, which has a long history. For example:
UM offers over 400 courses, at various levels, focused on sustainability
UM signed the Talloiries Declaration in 1990 in France, committing us to environmental sustainability
The Centre for Earth Observation Sciences was established in 1994 to understand the complex networks of Earth’s natural systems and how they will respond to climate change
UM was an early leader in the move to reduce its resource usage and environmental footprint, releasing a Sustainability Strategy in 2016 and the most recent update in 2019. All new buildings must aim to achieve LEED Silver certification, and to help achieve this, four LEED Accredited Professionals are on staff with Physical Plant.
“I’m proud of what our community has accomplished since I took office in 2008, the year we signed the University and College Presidents’ Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada,” says Barnard. “Since then, we have created the Office of Sustainability and a robust strategy to reduce our carbon footprint. We have done remarkable work and have achieved many things that are worthy of celebration. And although much work remains, our passionate and caring researchers, student groups, working groups, staff and administrators will help this great university overcome the challenges of the future.”
This recently signed charter holds UM to regularly measure the carbon intensity of its investment portfolios and set meaningful targets for their reduction over time. It also requires UM to evaluate progress towards these objectives on a regular basis and share the results of such assessments publicly. The university will also ensure the performance evaluation of its investment managers considers their success in achieving such objectives, alongside the normal criteria for assessing their performance.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was little changed in late-morning trading as the financial sector fell, but energy and base metal stocks moved higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.05 of a point at 24,224.95.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.31 points at 42,417.69. The S&P 500 index was down 10.91 points at 5,781.13, while the Nasdaq composite was down 29.59 points at 18,262.03.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.71 cents US compared with 73.05 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was up US$1.69 at US$74.93 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.67 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$14.70 at US$2,640.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$4.42 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
