What STFX is Doing to Become More Sustainable, and Where They can do More

Photo: Happiness Bhoke John

We are in the midst of a global climate crisis. The United Nations warns that this is a critical point for the future of the planet, and we have limited time to act. The Amazon is burning, the oceans are rising, glaciers are melting, and deserts are growing. Young activists like Greta Thunberg are compelling us to take a stand and do something. Even influential businessmen such as Lawrence D. Fink, Chair of one of the largest investment banking firms in the world, are beginning to take action. Fink, for instance, has advised everyone involved in his business to begin serious sustainability efforts, or risk losing his business and influence. We are a part of a generation that is more environmentally conscious than ever before. What I wonder, is what is the StFX community doing, and more importantly, where can we go from here? Throughout this article, I’ve gathered information from professors and community leaders in an attempt to answer these questions. This is what I learned.

Sodexo has a considerable presence on the StFX campus, and the ability to make a large difference in campus sustainability. Tim Hierlihy, the General Manager of Campus food services at Sodexo, says that “over the past few years, Sodexo and the University have partnered very closely to ensure that everyone’s goals are met, especially when it comes to sustainability.” The company is beginning the process of making the food services on campus more sustainable, more local, and as low-waste as possible. Doing so has included transitioning all of the takeout containers on campus to either recyclable or compostable materials, better organizing the recycling systems, reducing food waste, and remodelling to make machines as low energy as possible. They have also made an important commitment to ensure that all eggs served are cage-free and that all seafood is 100% sustainably sourced. Sustainably sourcing seafood means paying attention to at-risk species and ensuring that they are left alone while paying attention to and preventing overfishing. 

One of Sodexo’s core priorities is incorporating more local businesses into the program, and they already have a mandate proclaiming that 51% of products be sourced from the Maritimes, and 16% from small, local businesses. Recently, they have been using Bonnyman’s for their blueberries, which is a blueberry farm from Northern Nova Scotia, right near Antigonish. Seeing as Nova Scotia produces some of the best Lobster in the world, all Lobster used in Catering is also sourced ‘just down the road’ from campus. Furthermore, all coffee on campus has a discount for bringing your own cup, 25c at Sodexo facilities, and 10c at Starbucks, an opportunity that many students can take advantage of.

Dr. Riley Chisholm, a global agriculture professor, bee farmer, and an activist for the indigenous world view, says that when trying to tackle the climate change conundrum, “the paramount way is through radical acts of equality.” Dr. Chisholm tries to incorporate sustainability and the indigenous world view into all of her classes, and into her life. This year, some of her students decided to plan a “Climate Cafe” as a project. The Cafe is raising money in support of the Alton Gas Resistance, and endeavouring to educate the audience about indigenous treaties and the current situations through poems, info sessions and whatever presentations that they decide might help. This is a perfect example of a way that students on campus can do something small and make a big difference. In her opinion, we need to build and strengthen the community between both the university and the town, and between the indigenous people and the settler community in order to find ways that Antigonish can become a leader in sustainability and set an example for others everywhere. Chisholm also noted that Canada has already signed a Green New Deal, it is already in effect, with the peace and friendship treaties, and her advice is to get behind the Grandmothers and look at the indigenous world view. 

Dr. Kim Burnett, professor in Development Studies at StFX, connects all of her classes to sustainability as she says that it is important to relate and connect sustainability with international relations and development studies. One of the main points that Dr. Burnett brought up is that sustainability is not a standalone effort—there are massive tradeoffs with economics, development, and society. Her advice is to look for the intersection of all three, which would create a sustainable society that continues to thrive. She also advised students to not always believe everything they hear about how to be more sustainable, and to not just talk to people who already agree with you. There are likely things that you can learn from those who disagree with you because everyone brings a different perspective. For example, shopping locally isn’t synonymous with shopping sustainably; some things have a greater environmental cost to grow or manufacture locally than to transport long distances. Everyone should educate themselves and find out what they support. Burnett’s chief advice is to “think globally and act locally,” without romanticizing the actions that you are taking. If there are things that you’re passionate about changing, write to your local MP or go to a town hall meeting and enact change. Dr. Burnett’s final note was to ensure you’re not getting weighed down in the little things like forgetting your reusable coffee cup—just try your best. 

I also spoke with Dr. Corrine Cash, a professor in the CLEN program at StFX and at the Coady Institute. Dr. Cash’s approach is similar to Dr. Burnett’s, in that they are both emphasizing the connection of sustainability to the economy and other facets of society. Dr. Cash brings a systems perspective to this issue, describing that everything is interconnected and no issue can be treated coming only from one direction. Her view is that we need to create a low carbon economy that prioritizes respecting the earth. However, it is too late to just stop emitting carbon now and hope for everything to change, we now need to combine mitigating carbon emissions with adapting to the changes that are and will be occurring. Dr. Cash has voiced that while moving towards having a campus with a lower or neutral carbon footprint, we also need to prepare it for the changes that global warming is already causing.

Furthermore, we should be helping those who will feel the effects the strongest—largely the lower-income families who will be affected by the ripple effects of global warming. She also advised that putting pressure on banks and the banking industry can have a tremendous influence. Twenty-six banks have already stopped direct financing to new coal plants worldwide due to pressure from their communities, and with more pressure, this trend can spread further. Her final guidance was to pursue your passion and integrate sustainability into whatever that is, and not to stress if your path doesn’t directly relate to sustainability, because it takes an entire nation of jobs to create this kind of change. Become an engineer or an architect and design eco-friendly buildings; go into public planning or politics and enact legislation change; or go into teaching and advise the next generation on what they can do with the effort. 

The final person that I spoke with is the President of the StFX Environmental Society, to learn about the initiatives that they are organizing to help students get involved. Carley Ross, the society President, is herself an environmental science major and is able to bring a lot of perspective and ideas to the society. They have semi-regular campus trash pick-ups, are working to reduce the useless items in frosh kits and are hosting several film screenings. The Society is also always looking for more ideas—if you have any, sign-up and share them! 

The society is always in search of more members, because the more people they have, the more that they can do. 

These professors and community leaders have given us a lot of advice on how we can become more sustainable, make a difference, and incorporate sustainability into our everyday lives. We’ve learned about the efforts that the StFX community and Sodexo are already taking, and gotten ideas for more things that they can do. We’ve learned that we need to contemplate other people’s perspectives, such as that of Indigenous peoples—to listen openly and not stay stuck on our own opinions, and to be critical about what we see and hear in the media. Most importantly, we need to bring sustainability into all aspects of our lives, with whatever jobs we have or paths we may choose to take.