THE CONCEPT - History

History > Mission and Coordination > Student Sustainability Fund > Other Financing

The inspiration: Concordia

The success of the 1% Campaign held during the Less Talk More Action Conference showed that students are ready to act for sustainability and against climate changes. At this event Dr. David Suzuki and former Vice-President of the United States, Mr. Al Gore electrified the crowd of over 2000 Concordia students who then voted ‘yes’ on a referendum question for a 25-cent per-credit fee levy that would seek to transform Concordia into one of the most sustainable campuses in Canada. On March 27-29th students voted ‘yes’ and the 1% Sustainability Action Fund was born. The $150,000 gathered annually is used to develop sustainable student projects on the campus as well as internationally.

Sustainable Campuses Regional Campaign

Inspired by Concordia, the representatives of seven universities across Quebec, all present at the 9th National Conference on Sustainable Campuses in September 2007, adopted the 1% Campaign as a regional campaign within the national Student Union for Sustainability campaign of SYC.

Generations Tour

A few months later, Youth Action Canada in partnership with the Consortium évolution and SYC launched the Generations Tour. This series of conferences given on campuses from Montreal to Rimouski aimed to increase the awareness, involvement, and unity of students and communities about sustainability. From March 3rd to April 3rd 2008, the ambassadors of the Generations Pact: David Suzuki, Hubert Reeves, Jean Lemire, and Laure Waridel, visited 10 universities.

The Generations Tour ended on April 3rd 2008 at the Biosphère, in Montreal, with a gala which brought together universities and the main provincial actors in environment, the economy, and politics.

The Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks Minister of Québec, Mrs. Line Beauchamp, announced a grant of $250,000 to student sustainability funds for projects reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHG).

The Generations Pact book, which was signed by all attending, started the initiative.