CANIE 2.0 FAQ
About CANIE 2.0
What is CANIE 2.0?
CANIE 2.0 is the name we are using for a set of changes rolling out between now and February. It covers a reporting obligation for Accord signatories, a membership model with annual dues, and an updated version of the Accord itself.
What is the CANIE Accord 2.0, and how is it different from CANIE 2.0?
CANIE 2.0 is the whole programme of change. The CANIE Accord 2.0 is one part of it, the updated version of the Accord that signatories commit to.
What is happening and when?
- 30 September 2026: reporting opens
- 13 November 2026: reporting closes
- December 2026: the CANIE Accord 2.0 publishes
- Early 2027: the CANIE Annual Report is published
- 15 January 2027: membership dues open and Accord 2.0 signing opens
- 30 January 2027: the date we would like signatories to have signed the Accord 2.0 by
- 15 February 2027: dues and Accord 2.0 signing due at the latest
- From February 2027: individualised sustainability reports go to active members
Reporting
Why is CANIE introducing reporting?
One of the aims from the beginning was to be able to measure how the Accord and the organisation are impacting our efforts to make our field more environmentally sustainable. Reporting is how we find out whether the commitments signatories make are producing change, and where they are not, and how the Accord is working to help guide action and success by organisations and institutions.
Who has to report?
Signatories who signed the Accord in 2024 or earlier. Reporting is a requirement for those organisations.
I signed in 2025. Do I need to report?
No. Signatories who joined in 2025 or 2026 are exempt from this round and will report in the next cycle.
I signed in 2026. Can I report?
Not this round. There is not enough time between signing and reporting for progress data to say anything meaningful, so signatories who joined in 2025 or 2026 are exempt and will report in the next cycle.
When does reporting open and close?
It opens on 30 September 2026 and closes on Friday 13 November 2026.
What if we need more time?
Tell us before the deadline at info@canie.org and we will work something out. We would rather have a considered report late than a rushed one on time.
What does reporting involve?
Reporting requires signatory organisations to review their existing commitments and self-report on progress through a form that involves both qualitative and quantitative responses. Thoughtful reporting should take about 1 hour after the initial review of commitments. There is also an opportunity to upload files supporting progress towards the CANIE Accord goals.
How often will we have to report?
Every two years. The gap is deliberate. It gives organisations time to get their commitments into strategy and practice before they are asked about them again.
Do we report against our original commitments?
Yes. Reporting asks about progress against the commitments your organisation made when it signed.
What happens if we do not report?
Signatories who do not report are marked inactive. Inactive organisations appear greyed out on the signatory listing, and lose access to member benefits, awards submissions and reporting. There is more detail under "What happens if we do not pay?" below.
The CANIE Annual Report
What is the CANIE Annual Report?
It is a report we publish setting out the progress made across all Accord signatories together, built from what organisations submit in the reporting round.
When is it published?
Early 2027.
Will my organisation be named in it?
The published report is aggregated. However, it will list the organisations that contributed.
What is the individualised sustainability report?
A report on your own organisation’s progress, based on what you submitted, reviewed by a member of our academic board before it reaches you. It is yours to use as you like.
Who gets the report and when?
Signatories who are active members, meaning they have reported, paid their dues and signed the Accord 2.0. They go out from February 2027.
Membership and dues
Why is CANIE introducing dues?
CANIE has run on volunteers giving whatever time they could. With hundreds of Accord signatories, thousands of individual members and the launch of a more robust Accord, reporting every two years and an annual awards programme, that is no longer enough to keep the work going properly.
When do dues open, and when are they due?
They open on 15 January 2027 and are due by 15 February 2027, then annually after that.
How much will membership cost?
Pricing is banded by the size and type of the organisation, so a large institution and a small one will not pay the same. The full structure will be published by the end of November 2026, well before anyone is asked to pay.
Are there discounts?
Yes. As well as the size bands, there are lower rates for institutions based in emerging countries.
Can we apply for an exemption?
Anything beyond the country and size bands is considered case by case, in conversation with the board. More information on how that works comes with the pricing in November.
We signed and paid in 2026. Do we pay again in January?
No. Organisations that signed and paid in 2026 are not asked for dues this January. Your membership will be due in January 2027 along with signing of the new CANIE Accord 2.0.
Do I have to be a signatory to be a member?
No. From January, organisations can join as members only, without signing the Accord. If you are not in a position to commit to the Accord’s targets yet but want to be part of the work, that route exists.
Do I have to be a member to be a signatory?
Yes. All signatories are members. Not all members are signatories.
What do members get?
This is a draft list of benefits that we are still workshopping, and further information will be released in November. Membership includes access to training webinars and special interest groups, the reporting and review process itself, community content and engagement, and events, networking and Accord training at conferences. Active signatories also receive their individualised sustainability report.
What happens if we do not pay?
Organisations that do not complete reporting, sign the new Accord and pay the membership fee will no longer be active, and will no longer have permission to use the CANIE name or brand for QS or in any other public facing situation. They will be marked inactive, which means being greyed out on the signatory listing and losing access to member benefits, awards submissions and reports.
The CANIE Accord 2.0
What is the Accord 2.0?
An updated version of the CANIE Accord, which was first published in 2022. It is built on what we have learned from signatories and as an organisation since then.
When does it launch?
December 2026.
Do existing signatories need to sign it?
Yes. Signing the Accord 2.0 is how a signatory carries their status forward.
What do we need to do before we can sign?
Complete your reporting, if this round applies to you, and pay your dues in January.
When should we sign by?
The Accord 2.0 publishes in December 2026. Signing opens on 15 January 2027, at the same time as dues, and we would like signatories to have signed by 30 January 2027, and 15 February 2027 at the latest.
Active and inactive status
What makes an organisation active?
Reporting on your commitments every two years and paying your membership each year.
What do active members get?
Member benefits, awards eligibility, an individualised sustainability report, and an active badge, including the CANIE 2027 Active Member badge.
What does inactive mean?
Inactive organisations are greyed out on the public signatory listing, and do not have access to member benefits, awards submissions or reporting.
Can an inactive organisation become active again?
Yes. Bringing reporting and dues up to date restores active status.
The Climate Awards
Can we still enter?
No. Entries closed on 21 August 2026.
When are the finalists announced?
25 September 2026. We are now reviewing submissions and will be informing finalists once judging is complete.
When and where are winners announced?
15 October 2026, at the Open Plenary of the Forum on Education Abroad’s EMEA Conference in Lisbon. If you are not already planning to attend the conference, please join online. We will share details closer to the time.
What do winners and finalists receive?
A digital badge and certificate, a spotlight write-up, a dedicated social post, a mention in the newsletter and press release, and a listing on the winners page.
Who judges the awards?
There are five categories: Climate Champion - Educational Institution of the Year, Climate Champion - Provider of the Year, Best Student-focused Initiative, Best Carbon Reduction Initiative and The CANIE Award. Each is reviewed by a panel of three judges scoring against a published set of criteria, with the board making the final call on the overall CANIE Award. Organisations of different sizes sit in the same categories, so judges are asked to weigh size when they score, particularly on impact, and to measure what a smaller organisation has achieved against what a smaller organisation can realistically do.
Asking a question
My question is not answered here
Send it through our enquiry form. Choosing a topic helps it reach the right person.
How quickly will I hear back?
As quickly as we are able, though it may take several days. Please bear with us, we are all volunteer run.
Can I still email info@canie.org?
You can, but CANIE 2.0 questions sent there will be pointed back to the form, which keeps everything in one place and makes it easier for us to answer properly. For questions specifically about the Accord 2.0 or reporting, please write to accord@canie.org.