Welcome to the AMS Commission of Environmental Sustainability (CES). Having been reintroduced in 2020, the CES serves as a campus leader in sustainable governance and advocacy. The commission offers resources to aid students in pursuing sustainable initiatives, with resources such as the Sustainable Action Fund (SAF) and Sustainable Event Certificate (SEC). Through our various outreach events and campaigns, the CES aims to represent the student body within environmentalist topics and amplify other campus organizations that share our values in sustainable procurement, leadership, and advocacy.
Our Sustainability Hub events are environmental fairs that run twice per semester. Events have local businesses, clubs, and activist organizations in attendance; as well as have repair experts to fix students furniture, clothes, or electronics. Stop by and learn how you can live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle!
The Collective Closet is a swap-based clothing initiative founded in collaboration with the Commission of Environmental Sustainability and Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Crisis (QBACC). The Collective Closet operates on a take one, leave one model to promote slow fashion. The Closet operates regular hours in its JDUC storefront, as well as pop-up events across campus.
The Sustainable Action Fund (SAF) is to improve and promote sustainability at Queen’s by funding relevant events and initiatives. The applicability of the fund is extremely broad and has been granted to various initiatives, including conferences, a greenhouse, a residence composting initiative, and a secure bike storage facility. This is an excellent opportunity to fund undergraduate projects focused on sustainability.
The Sustainable Event Certificate (SEC) is a campus initiative created to incentivize student-ran events to plan sustainably. This certification provides its recipients with discounts to on-campus services for their event, as well as assistance advertising. Achieving this certification will require individuals to question the purpose of every product used, while also assessing the usefulness of more ecofriendly alternatives.
Applications are open year-round. Applicants can expect a response to their application within one week of applying.
The CES initially began its garden initiatives with the Lettuce Love Garden, located outside LaSalle Building. Today, the CES has partnered with Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), Gardens for Joy, and Queen’s Backing Action on the Climate Crisis (QBACC) to construct and maintain eight garden beds behind Nicol Hall. The CES has also expanded to include hydroponic gardening under its portfolio.
The CES uses its gardens to grow various herbs and crops. All produce grown is donated to the AMS Food Bank to combat food insecurity in Kingston while practicing sustainable procurement.
October is Sustainability Month! Join the CES in our various campaigns, projects, and events, in collaboration with various partners. Events will be updated on our webpage and social media accounts!
Queen’s Environmental Coalition
The Environmental Coalition is a group of environmental clubs, faculty society members and individuals who meet to discuss updates and work on collaborative work as a collective. Through this, common sustainability issues on campus are explored, and remediation is sought out with the support of the AMS Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability. This coalition promotes conservation, education, research and innovation, and acts as a place for advocacy of sustainable university operations. It is an excellent space to discuss individual initiatives, as well as create successful collaborations! If you are interested in joining the coalition email .