Climate change is perhaps the biggest threat facing our planet today, setting challenges that affect every corner of the globe and demand action from everyone on it, including universities. Ontario’s universities recognize that they must be active partners in the fight against climate change, in order to ensure all Ontarians benefit from a sustainable and prosperous future.
Ontario’s universities are drawing on the broad strengths and expertise of our students, staff, researchers and faculty to help address Ontario’s environmental challenges. Some of the work taking place includes:
Increasing the energy efficiency of older buildings and other initiatives that ensure our campuses meet the highest environmental standards. Students’ passion for environmental change also helps drive our initiatives, leading to great ideas like sustainable, green-roofed pavilions and bicycle shelters powered by solar panels, in an effort to shrink university campuses’ carbon footprint.
Collaborative work is also underway between universities, local government agencies and other organizations to help communities adapt to a changing climate. For example, this work is helping address flood risk in homes and helping municipalities plan for and address extreme weather events.
Since 2013, 17 of Ontario’s 21 universities have added new research initiatives or institutes on sustainability. Research on new biofuels and clean energy sources, electric vehicles and related technology, construction and low carbon homes are ongoing, and are just some of the ways that Ontario’s universities work directly with industry and government to ensure tomorrow’s economy is both sustainable and prosperous.
Support advancements in clean technology and climate science that will move the results of university research into businesses and communities, helping all Ontarians bring greater energy efficiency and sustainability into their homes and offices.
Encourage conservation and energy efficiency through funding to repair or retrofit aging infrastructure, with dedicated investments to postsecondary institutions.
In our report, you will find a comprehensive summary of what we heard from Ontarians and how Ontario's universities are working across all sectors to help students thrive, support our communities, and drive a growing, dynamic province.
Browse through reports and related materials to find out about Ontario universities' role in everything ranging from university graduate employment to family medicine and community transformation.
